1951 Bolivian general election explained

Country:	Bolivia
Flag Year:	state
Previous Election:	1947 Bolivian general election
Previous Year:	1947
Next Election:	1956 Bolivian general election
Next Year:	1956
Election Date:	6 May 1951
Registered:	204,649
Module:	Embed: yes Election Name: Presidential election Type: presidential Image1: Paz Estenssoro.jpg Nominee1: Víctor Paz Estenssoro Party1: Revolutionary Nationalist Movement Popular Vote1: 54,129 Percentage1: 42.91% Nominee2: Gabriel Gosálvez Party2: PURS Popular Vote2: 40,381 Percentage2: 32.01% Image3: Bernardino Bilbao Rioja (CROPPED).jpg Nominee3: Bernardino Bilbao Rioja Party3: Bolivian Socialist Falange Popular Vote3: 13,259 Percentage3: 10.51% Nominee4: Guillermo Gutiérrez Vea Murguía Party4: ACB Popular Vote4: 6,654 Percentage4: 5.27% Image5: Tomás Manuel Elío - 3.jpg Nominee5: Tomás Manuel Elío Party5: Liberal Popular Vote5: 6,530 Percentage5: 5.17% President Before Election: Mamerto Urriolagoitía Before Party: PURS After Election: Election results annulled

General elections were held in Bolivia on 6 May 1951.^[1] Víctor Paz Estenssoro of the opposition Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR) received the most votes in the presidential election, but as he did not obtain an absolute majority, the National Congress was constitutionally obliged to elect a President on 6 August from the three candidates who received the most public votes. However, on 16 May a military junta assumed responsibility for the Government with Brigadier General Hugo Ballivián as President.

The National Congress was ultimately dissolved by Supreme Decree of 7 June, 1951, which annulled the results of the elections.^[2]

Electoral system

Until 1956, Bolivia did not have universal suffrage. Rather, the country operated under the "qualified vote" system in which deputies elected in parish and provincial boards then voted in general elections.^[3] Under this system, ballots for president and vice president were separate resulting in different vote totals for each.

Campaign

The Republican Socialist Unity Party (PURS) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) formed the Social Democratic Action alliance to contest the election, with Gabriel Gosalvez of PURS running for President and Roberto Arce of the PSD running for Vice-President.

Results

Vice-President

Bibliography

• Book: Gisbert, Carlos D. Mesa . Carlos Mesa . Presidentes de Bolivia: entre urnas y fusiles : el poder ejecutivo, los ministros de estado. 2003. Editorial Gisbert. es.

Notes and References

1. [Dieter Nohlen]
2. Political Handbook of the World 1956, New York, 1956. p14
3. Web site: Voto calificado y voto universal. 2021-03-18. Opinión Bolivia. es.