1978 Dominican Republic general election

General elections were held in the Dominican Republic on 16 May 1978.[1] Following diplomatic pressure from American President Jimmy Carter, the elections were free and competitive and contested by all political parties, unlike the previous elections in the 1970s.[2] Antonio Guzmán Fernández won the presidential election, whilst his Dominican Revolutionary Party (which had not contested the 1970 and 1974 elections) won the Congressional elections. Voter turnout was 76%.[3]

1978 Dominican Republic general election

← 1974 16 May 1978 (1978-05-16) 1982 →
Presidential election
 
Nominee Antonio Guzmán Joaquín Balaguer
Party PRD PR
Popular vote 866,912 711,878
Percentage 52.36% 42.99%

Results by department

President before election

Joaquín Balaguer
PR

Elected President

Antonio Guzmán
PRD

When counting showed an unmistakable trend toward Guzmán, the Army attempted to stage a coup in favor of incumbent Joaquín Balaguer. However, when the army tried to interrupt the vote count, it was forced to back down amid protests at home and strong pressure from abroad. The final count showed Balaguer had suffered the first defeat of his career, losing by almost 10 points.[2][4][5] Although Guzmán was allowed to assume the presidency, the Central Elections Authority redistributed the uncast votes equally between the PRD and the Reformist Party, diminishing the PRD's majority in Congress.[2]

Guzmán's swearing-in on 16 August marked the first time in the country's history that a sitting government had peacefully surrendered power to an elected member of the opposition.

Results

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President

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Antonio Guzmán FernándezDominican Revolutionary Party866,91252.36
Joaquín BalaguerReformist Party711,87842.99
Francisco Augusto LoraMovement of Democratic Integration27,0951.64
Juan BoschDominican Liberation Party18,3751.11
Narciso Isa Conde [es]Dominican Communist Party9,8280.59
Alfonso LockwardSocial Christian Revolutionary Party7,9810.48
Luis Julián PérezNational Salvation Movement7,7820.47
Luis Homero Lajara Burgos [es]People's Democratic Party5,9560.36
Total1,655,807100.00
Valid votes1,655,80795.09
Invalid/blank votes85,5304.91
Total votes1,741,337100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,283,78476.25
Source: Nohlen

Congress

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PartyVotes%Seats
House+/–Senate+/–
Dominican Revolutionary Party838,97350.9848New16New
Reformist Party692,14642.0643–3211–12
Dominican Liberation Party18,5651.130New0New
Movement of Democratic Integration13,3170.810New0New
National Civic Union [es]13,3160.810New0New
Social Christian Revolutionary Party11,0940.670New0New
Social Democratic Alliance11,0560.670New0New
Dominican Communist Party10,7510.650New0New
Movement of National Reconciliation7,7430.470New0New
National Salvation Movement7,7270.470New0New
Democratic Quisqueyano Party5,9840.360New0New
People's Democratic Party5,6670.340–300
Revolutionary Movement of the People3,8670.230New0New
Independent Provincial Union Movement1,9980.120New0New
Justicialist Popular Movement1,6490.100New0New
Santuagúes Restoration Movement1,4280.090New0New
Municipal Movement of the People2840.020–100
Total1,645,565100.00910270
Valid votes1,645,56595.06
Invalid/blank votes85,5304.94
Total votes1,731,095100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,283,78475.80
Source: Nohlen, Campillo Pérez[6]

References

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  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p247 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
  2. ^ a b c Nohlen, p241
  3. ^ Nohlen, p248
  4. ^ Dominican Republic Inter-Parliamentary Union
  5. ^ Buckman, Robert T. (2007). The World Today Series: Latin America 2007. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications. ISBN 978-1-887985-84-0.
  6. ^ Julio G. Campillo Pérez (1986) Historia electoral dominicana, 1848-1986, p517