1932 Chilean general election

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.

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

Background

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

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

President

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Arturo Alessandri	Liberal Party	189,914	55.05
	Marmaduke Grove	New Public Action	60,856	17.64
	Héctor Rodríguez de la Sotta	Conservative Party	47,207	13.68
	Enrique Zañartu Prieto	United Liberal Party	42,885	12.43
	Elías Lafertte	Communist Party	4,128	1.20
Total			344,990	100.00
Valid votes			344,990	99.74
Invalid/blank votes			902	0.26
Total votes			345,892	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			464,879	74.40
Source: Nohlen

Senate

Party		Seats
	Radical Party	13
	Conservative Party	10
	Liberal Party	5
	Socialist Radical Party	5
	Democratic Party	4
	Democrat Party	3
	New Public Action	2
	Independent Liberal Party	1
	United Liberal Party	1
	Republican Social Party	1
Total		45
Source: Nohlen

Chamber of Deputies

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Radical Party	59,413	18.10	34	–5
	Conservative Party	55,260	16.84	34	+6
	Liberal Party	32,645	9.95	18	–16
	Democratic Party	25,221	7.68	13	New
	Democrat Party	19,819	6.04	7	–15
	United Liberal Party	18,885	5.75	6	New
	Socialist parties[a]	18,642	5.68	5	New
	Socialist Radical Party	18,174	5.54	8	New
	Republican Social Party	7,009	2.14	4	New
	Agrarian Party	6,580	2.00	4	New
	Independent Liberal Party	5,643	1.72	2	New
	Communist Party	3,350	1.02	1	New
	Social Democracy Party	3,029	0.92	1	New
	Liberal Democratic Party	1,686	0.51	1	New
	Other parties	19,735	6.01	0	–
	Independents	33,116	10.09	4	+4
Total		328,207	100.00	142	+10
Registered voters/turnout		429,772	–
Source: Nohlen

1. Including New Public Action (9,790 votes) and Chilean Socialists (5,352 votes).^[3]

Aftermath

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

References

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