1997 Bolivian general election

General elections were held in Bolivia on 1 June 1997.[1] As no candidate for the presidency received over 50% of the vote, the National Congress was required to elect a president on 4 August. Hugo Banzer of Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN) was subsequently elected. Whilst the ADN emerged as the largest party in Congress, it failed to win a majority of seats, and formed a coalition government with the Revolutionary Left Movement, Conscience of Fatherland and the Solidarity Civic Unity.[2]

1997 Bolivian general election

1 June 1997
Registered3,252,791
Presidential election
 
Nominee Hugo Banzer Juan Carlos Durán Remedios Loza
Party ADNPDCNFR MNR CONDEPA
Running mate Jorge Quiroga Percy Fernández Gonzalo Ruiz Paz
Popular vote 484,705 396,235 373,528
Percentage 22.26% 18.20% 17.16%

 
Nominee Jaime Paz Zamora Ivo Kuljis Fuchner
Party MIRFRI UCS
Running mate Samuel Doria Medina Juan Chahín
Popular vote 365,005 350,728
Percentage 16.77% 16.11%

Results by department (left) and province (right)

President before election

Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada
MNR

Elected President

Hugo Banzer
ADN

Electoral system

As a result of modifications to the constitution in 1994 and 1995, the minimum age to vote in this election was reduced to eighteen years. An amendment regarding the term of office also entered force meaning that the elected president would serve a 5-year term rather than the previous 4-year term without the possibility of reelection.[3]

Campaign

Incumbent president Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada chose René Blattmann, minister of justice and human rights, as the MNR's presidential candidate. Blattmann's reformations to the judicial system had gained him great popularity among the population with him holding a 34% electoral preference to Hugo Banzer's 14% upon the announcement of his candidacy in December 1996. However, René Blattmann surprisingly renounced his candidacy at the end of January 1997. Juan Carlos Durán became the new MNR candidate but the damage to the party's electoral campaign was irreversible.[4]

Hugo Banzer, who had run in the past five elections, had stated in 1993 that he would not present himself again as a candidate. Nevertheless, Banzer announced his 1997 candidacy anyway. Former president Jaime Paz Zamora of the MIR also announced his intention to seek a second term.[4]

The "neo-populist" Max Fernández of the UCS and Carlos Palenque of CONDEPA had seen their parties' best performances in 1993. However, the premature death of both leaders hurt their parties' chances of winning. Jhonny Fernández, Max Fernández's son, was not yet of legal age to run leading the UCS to present as their candidate Ivo Kuljis Fuchner. Interestingly, Fuchner had been Carlos Palenque's CONDEPA running mate in 1993. CONDEPA, in turn, presented Remedios Loza, the first female presidential candidate in Bolivia history. The fact that Loza was Aymara won her some support among Bolivia's marginalized indigenous population.[5]

Economic and social issues dominated the campaign, with all major parties promising to continue the free market policies implemented by outgoing President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada. Whilst Juan Carlos Durán emphasised the free market reforms, Hugo Banzer promised to improve the lives of the indigenous population.[2]

Results

Ultimately, the divided electoral field and the woes of the MNR resulted in Hugo Banzer claiming a narrow plurality vote victory of 22.26%, the lowest margin of victory for any presidential candidate in Bolivian history.

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%Seats
Chamber+/–Senate+/–
Hugo BanzerJorge QuirogaADNPDCNFR484,70522.263211
Juan Carlos DuránPercy FernándezRevolutionary Nationalist Movement396,23518.2026–264–13
Remedios LozaGonzalo Ruiz PazConscience of Fatherland373,52817.1619+63+2
Jaime Paz ZamoraSamuel Doria MedinaRevolutionary Left Movement365,00516.77237
Ivo Kuljis FuchnerJuan ChahínSolidarity Civic Unity350,72816.1121+12+1
Alejo VélizMarcos Domic RuizUnited Left80,8063.714+400
Miguel Urioste FernándezMarcial FabricanoFree Bolivia Movement67,2443.095–200
Jerjes Justiniano TalaveraSonia Montaño FerrufinoBolivian Socialist Vanguard30,2121.390New0New
Ramiro BarrenecheaJuan de la Cruz Villca ChoquePatriotic Convergence Axis18,3270.840New0New
Eudoro GalindoÁngel Cardona AyoroaBolivian Democratic Party10,3810.480New0New
Total2,177,171100.001300270
Valid votes2,177,17193.80
Invalid/blank votes143,9466.20
Total votes2,321,117100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,252,79171.36
Source: Nohlen

Congressional ballot

As no candidate reached the required 50% majority, the National Congress convened to elect the president. Members of both chambers voted on the president. Banzer was supported by his ADN-NFR-PDC political alliance as well as by the MIR, CONDEPA, and UCS. Juan Carlos Durán would only receive the support of the MNR. The 4 IU and 5 MBL deputies abstained.

CandidatePartyVotes%
Hugo BanzerNationalist Democratic Action11879.73
Juan Carlos DuránRevolutionary Nationalist Movement3020.27
Total148100.00
Total votes148
Registered voters/turnout15794.27

See also

Notes

    References

    1. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p133 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
    2. Elections held in 1997 IPU
    3. "Bolivia: Ley de Reforma y Complementacion al Régimen Electoral, 19 de marzo de 1997". www.lexivox.org. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
    4. Gisbert 2003, pp. 177
    5. Gisbert 2003, pp. 178

    Bibliography

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