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1932 Chilean general election

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1932 Chilean general election

← 1931 30 October 1932 1938 →
 
Nominee Arturo Alessandri Marmaduke Grove
Party Liberal New Public Action
Popular vote 187,914 60,856
Percentage 55.05% 17.64%

 
Nominee Héctor Rodríguez Enrique Zañartu Prieto
Party Conservative United Liberal
Popular vote 47,207 42,885
Percentage 13.68% 12.43%

President before election

Abraham Oyanedel
Independent

President

Arturo Alessandri
Liberal

General elections were held in Chile on 30 October 1932.[1] Arturo Alessandri of the Liberal Party was elected president, whilst the Conservative Party and Radical Party emerged as the largest parties in the Chamber of Deputies.

Background

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The election took place roughly a year after the previous election, but political and economic instability caused by the Great Depression which hit a low in mid-1932, only made the situation worse. President Montero had to resign shortly after a mutiny led by Marmaduque Grove, who headed the Socialist Republic of Chile until being overthrown by former ally Carlos Dávila who would also be overthrown, this time by Bartolome Blanche. After his downfall, Abraham Oyanedel became head of state. The return of Alessandri became so highly awaited that he won the election in a landslide ending a turbulent and bitter year for the country, being considered today as the worst one in Chilean history.

Electoral system

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The presidential election was held using the absolute majority system, under which a candidate had to receive over 50% of the popular vote to be elected. If no candidate received over 50% of the vote, both houses of the National Congress would come together to vote on the two candidates that received the most votes.[2]

Results

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President

[edit]
CandidatePartyVotes%
Arturo AlessandriLiberal Party189,91455.05
Marmaduke GroveNew Public Action60,85617.64
Héctor Rodríguez de la CottaConservative Party47,20713.68
Enrique Zañartu PrietoUnited Liberal Party42,88512.43
Elías LafertteCommunist Party4,1281.20
Total344,990100.00
Valid votes344,99099.74
Invalid/blank votes9020.26
Total votes345,892100.00
Registered voters/turnout464,87974.40
Source: Nohlen

Senate

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PartySeats
Radical Party13
Conservative Party10
Liberal Party5
Socialist Radical Party5
Democratic Party4
Democrat Party3
New Public Action2
Independent Liberal Party1
United Liberal Party1
Republican Social Party1
Total45
Source: Nohlen

Chamber of Deputies

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Radical Party59,41318.1034–5
Conservative Party55,26016.8434+6
Liberal Party32,6459.9518–16
Democratic Party25,2217.6813New
Democrat Party19,8196.047–15
United Liberal Party18,8855.756New
Socialist parties[a]18,6425.685New
Socialist Radical Party18,1745.548New
Republican Social Party7,0092.144New
Agrarian Party6,5802.004New
Independent Liberal Party5,6431.722New
Communist Party3,3501.021New
Social Democracy Party3,0290.921New
Liberal Democratic Party1,6860.511New
Other parties19,7356.010
Independents33,11610.094+4
Total328,207100.00142+10
Registered voters/turnout429,772
Source: Nohlen
  1. ^ Including New Public Action (9,790 votes) and Chilean Socialists (5,352 votes).[3]

Aftermath

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Following the elections, three of the independent candidates elected to the Chamber of Deputies joined the Communist Party.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p262 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
  2. ^ Nohlen, p259
  3. ^ Nohlen, p270
  4. ^ Nohlen, p280