Honduran general election, 1954
Encyclopedia
A general election was held in Honduras
on 10 October 1954. The elections took place, with relative honesty.
The split among the Nationalists
enabled the Liberals
to win a plurality (48 percent) in the national elections, but without an absolute majority the election was thrown into the National Congress, where the distribution of seats favored the Nationalists
and the MNR.
The Nationalists
and Reformists, unable to concur on a candidate of their own, had agreed to block Ramón Villeda Morales
.
In November the election was thrown into Congress.
“Unfortunately, two-thirds of the deputies was necessary to constitute a quorum and when the National
and Reformist deputies boycotted the proceedings (in a ploy designed by US Ambassador Whitting Willauer), a stalemate ensued”.
In the midst of this crisis, President Juan Manuel Gálvez
, stricken by illness, turned over the power of the presidency to his vice-president.
On 16 November 1954 Vice President Julio Lozano Díaz
assumed the presidency during a constitutional crisis occasioned by an anarchic election. His ostensible purpose was to save the country from descending into chaos. Once in power, however, he decided to stay there.
Owing to the failure of Congress to agree on a winner, the country seemed about to plunge into a civil war, which no one wanted. Thus there was almost relief when, on 6 December, Lozano
moved decisively, declaring himself dictator. It was the same old story of someone assuming strong-man rule in order to avoid the imaginary ‘chaos’ that would result from democratic rule. Soon Lozano
even uncovered the obligatory ‘communist plot,’ allegedly backed by Guatemalan ex-president Juan José Arévalo
, which allowed him to tighten the screws even more. Villeda
and other Liberal leaders were exiled from the country.
President Lozano
, asserting his independence, dissolved congress and appointed a State Advisory Council (59-member) with representatives from the Liberal
, National
, and MNR Parties. It was to write a new constitution, labor code, social security law, and act merely in an advisory capacity to the president.
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
on 10 October 1954. The elections took place, with relative honesty.
The split among the Nationalists
National Party of Honduras
The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been...
enabled the Liberals
Liberal Party of Honduras
The Liberal Party of Honduras is a centre-left liberal political party in Honduras that was founded in 1891. The party is a member of the Liberal International...
to win a plurality (48 percent) in the national elections, but without an absolute majority the election was thrown into the National Congress, where the distribution of seats favored the Nationalists
National Party of Honduras
The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been...
and the MNR.
The Nationalists
National Party of Honduras
The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been...
and Reformists, unable to concur on a candidate of their own, had agreed to block Ramón Villeda Morales
Ramón Villeda Morales
Ramón Villeda Morales is a municipality in the Honduran department of Gracias a Dios....
.
In November the election was thrown into Congress.
“Unfortunately, two-thirds of the deputies was necessary to constitute a quorum and when the National
National Party of Honduras
The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been...
and Reformist deputies boycotted the proceedings (in a ploy designed by US Ambassador Whitting Willauer), a stalemate ensued”.
In the midst of this crisis, President Juan Manuel Gálvez
Juan Manuel Gálvez
Juan Manuel Gálvez Durón was President of Honduras from 1 January 1949 until 5 December 1954. His election, for the National Party of Honduras , ended the 16-year dictatorship of Tiburcio Carías Andino....
, stricken by illness, turned over the power of the presidency to his vice-president.
On 16 November 1954 Vice President Julio Lozano Díaz
Julio Lozano Díaz
Julio Lozano Díaz , was first vice-president and then president of Honduras, from 5 December 1954 until 21 October 1956.Previously he was an accountant for the Rosario Mining Company....
assumed the presidency during a constitutional crisis occasioned by an anarchic election. His ostensible purpose was to save the country from descending into chaos. Once in power, however, he decided to stay there.
Owing to the failure of Congress to agree on a winner, the country seemed about to plunge into a civil war, which no one wanted. Thus there was almost relief when, on 6 December, Lozano
Julio Lozano Díaz
Julio Lozano Díaz , was first vice-president and then president of Honduras, from 5 December 1954 until 21 October 1956.Previously he was an accountant for the Rosario Mining Company....
moved decisively, declaring himself dictator. It was the same old story of someone assuming strong-man rule in order to avoid the imaginary ‘chaos’ that would result from democratic rule. Soon Lozano
Julio Lozano Díaz
Julio Lozano Díaz , was first vice-president and then president of Honduras, from 5 December 1954 until 21 October 1956.Previously he was an accountant for the Rosario Mining Company....
even uncovered the obligatory ‘communist plot,’ allegedly backed by Guatemalan ex-president Juan José Arévalo
Juan José Arévalo
Juan José Arévalo Bermejo was the first of the reformist presidents of Guatemala. Preceded by military junta interregnum after a definitive pro-democracy revolt in 1944...
, which allowed him to tighten the screws even more. Villeda
Ramón Villeda Morales
Ramón Villeda Morales is a municipality in the Honduran department of Gracias a Dios....
and other Liberal leaders were exiled from the country.
President Lozano
Julio Lozano Díaz
Julio Lozano Díaz , was first vice-president and then president of Honduras, from 5 December 1954 until 21 October 1956.Previously he was an accountant for the Rosario Mining Company....
, asserting his independence, dissolved congress and appointed a State Advisory Council (59-member) with representatives from the Liberal
Liberal Party of Honduras
The Liberal Party of Honduras is a centre-left liberal political party in Honduras that was founded in 1891. The party is a member of the Liberal International...
, National
National Party of Honduras
The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been...
, and MNR Parties. It was to write a new constitution, labor code, social security law, and act merely in an advisory capacity to the president.
Presidential election results
| Candidate | Party/Alliance | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramón Villeda Morales Ramón Villeda Morales Ramón Villeda Morales is a municipality in the Honduran department of Gracias a Dios.... |
Liberal Party of Honduras Liberal Party of Honduras The Liberal Party of Honduras is a centre-left liberal political party in Honduras that was founded in 1891. The party is a member of the Liberal International... (PLH) |
121,213 | 48.10% |
| Tiburcio Carías Andino Tiburcio Carías Andino Tiburcio Carías Andino was a Honduran military man with a reputation as a strongman. He founded the National Party of Honduras in 1918, and was President of Honduras twice with the first term beginning in April 1924.... |
National Party of Honduras National Party of Honduras The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been... (PNH) |
77,726 | 30.85% |
| Abraham Williams Calderón | National Reformist Movement (MNR) | 53,041 | 21.05% |
| Total valid votes | 251,980 | 100% | |
| Spoilt and invalid votes | 644 | 00.25% | |
| Total votes/Turnout | 252,624 | 61.41% | |
| Registered voters | 411,354 | ||
| Population | 1,608,000 | ||
Legislative election
| Parties and alliances | Votes/districts | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Party of Honduras Liberal Party of Honduras The Liberal Party of Honduras is a centre-left liberal political party in Honduras that was founded in 1891. The party is a member of the Liberal International... (PLH) |
121,213 | 48.10% | 24 |
| National Party of Honduras National Party of Honduras The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been... (PNH) |
77,726 | 30.85% | 23 |
| National Reformist Movement (MNR) | 53,041 | 21.05% | 12 |
| Total valid votes | 251,980 | 100% | 59 |
| Spoilt and invalid votes | 644 | 00.25% | |
| Total votes/Turnout | 252,624 | 61.41% | |
| Registered voters | 411,354 | ||
| Population | 1,608,000 | ||