1941 Venezuelan presidential election explained

Election Name:1941 Venezuelan presidential election
Country:Venezuela (1954)
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Election Date:28 April 1941
Previous Election:1936 Venezuelan presidential election
Previous Year:1936
Next Election:1947 Venezuelan general election
Next Year:1947
Image1:IMAngarita.JPG
Party1:Venezuelan Democratic
Electoral Vote1:120
Percentage1:87.59%
Colour1:21ABCD
Party2:Democratic Action
Electoral Vote2:13
Percentage2:9.49%
President
Before Election:Eleazar López Contreras
Before Party:Independent politician
After Election:Isaías Medina Angarita
After Party:Venezuelan Democratic Party

Presidential elections were held in Venezuela on 28 April 1941 to elect the successor of President of Venezuela Eleazar López Contreras. This presidential election, unlike the elections held since 1947, was indirect, that is, the voters were the deputies and senators of the Congress of Venezuela. The winner on this day was Isaías Medina Angarita with 120 votes, 87.6% of the seats in the Congress.

Background

Following the death of President Juan Vicente Gómez, who was dictator of Venezuela from 1908 to 1935, General and Minister of Army and Navy Eleazar López Contreras assumed the presidency. Eleazar López Contreras attempted to mediate between the authoritarian processes of his predecessor, promoting democratic processes and political freedom for Venezuelans.

In July 1936 shortly after becoming President of Venezuela, President Eleazar López Contreras created a constitutional amendment limiting the presidential term from seven years down to five, applying this law upon himself as well. This constitutional decision led to the 1941 elections, where the Congress of Venezuela would determine the new President of Venezuela.