Liberal Party (Bolivia)
Encyclopedia
The Liberal Party was one of two major political parties
in Bolivia
in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The other was the Conservative Party
. The Liberal Party was formally founded in 1883 by Eliodoro Camacho
. The party espoused freedom of religion, a strict separation between church and state, legal acceptance of civil marriages and divorce, and strict adherence to democratic procedures. When the party took power in 1899, it moved the base of the presidency and the Congress to La Paz
, which became the de facto capital city. The Supreme Court
remained in Sucre. To this day, Sucre is the de jure capital of Bolivia while La Paz acts as the de facto seat of government.
Between 1899 and 1920, all of the Presidents of Bolivia
were members of the Liberal Party, supported by the tin-mining oligarchy until the Republican Party took power in a coup in 1920.
The last Liberal president was José Luis Tejada Sorzano
, who served between 1934 and 1936.
By 1940, however, the party had formed a Concordance
with their erstwhile Republican opponents to counter the rising tide of radical or revolutionary parties. A Concordance
supported the candidate Enrique Peñaranda
.
In 1947, the Liberal Party's Luis Femando Guachalla narrowly lost to Enrique Hertzog
of the PURS.
In the 1951 elections, Tomás Manuel Elío ran for the Liberal Party but received far fewer votes than the winner.
For the 1966 elections, the Liberal Party was the component of the Democratic Institutionalist Alliance
, with the PURS's Enrique Hertzog
as the coalition's presidential candidate. He polled 11,400 votes (01.13%) and came sixth.
In 1978 Liberal Party allied with the Nationalist Union of the People
and its candidate Juan Pereda
.
The Liberal Party has had no political power in decades.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The other was the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (Bolivia)
The Conservative Party was one of two major political parties in Bolivia in the late 19th century. The other was the Liberal Party. Between 1880 and 1899, all of the Presidents of Bolivia were members of the Conservative Party....
. The Liberal Party was formally founded in 1883 by Eliodoro Camacho
Eliodoro Camacho
Eliodoro Camacho was a noted Bolivian politician, party leader, and presidential candidate. The Eliodoro Camacho Province is named after him. Camacho was born in Inquisivi, Department of La Paz, but grew up in Cochabamba...
. The party espoused freedom of religion, a strict separation between church and state, legal acceptance of civil marriages and divorce, and strict adherence to democratic procedures. When the party took power in 1899, it moved the base of the presidency and the Congress to La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, which became the de facto capital city. The Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Bolivia
The Supreme Court of Bolivia is the South American country's highest court, located in Sucre, 410 kilometres to the south-east of La Paz, Bolivia's capital. The Court was created by the Supreme Decree of April 27, 1825, which transformed the Royal Audience of Charcas into the new country's...
remained in Sucre. To this day, Sucre is the de jure capital of Bolivia while La Paz acts as the de facto seat of government.
Between 1899 and 1920, all of the Presidents of Bolivia
President of Bolivia
The President of Bolivia is head of state and head of government of Bolivia. According to the current Constitution, the president is elected by popular vote to a five year term, renewable once...
were members of the Liberal Party, supported by the tin-mining oligarchy until the Republican Party took power in a coup in 1920.
The last Liberal president was José Luis Tejada Sorzano
José Luis Tejada Sorzano
José Luis Tejada Sorzano was a Bolivian lawyer and politician appointed by the military as president of Bolivia during the Chaco War...
, who served between 1934 and 1936.
By 1940, however, the party had formed a Concordance
Concordance (Bolivia)
The Concordance was an electoral political alliance of the right-wing and traditionalist political parties in Bolivia....
with their erstwhile Republican opponents to counter the rising tide of radical or revolutionary parties. A Concordance
Concordance (Bolivia)
The Concordance was an electoral political alliance of the right-wing and traditionalist political parties in Bolivia....
supported the candidate Enrique Peñaranda
Enrique Peñaranda
Enrique Peñaranda del Castillo was a Bolivian general who served as commander of his country's forces during the second half of the Chaco War...
.
In 1947, the Liberal Party's Luis Femando Guachalla narrowly lost to Enrique Hertzog
Enrique Hertzog
Enrique Hertzog Garaizabal was a Bolivian politician who was elected President of his country in 1947...
of the PURS.
In the 1951 elections, Tomás Manuel Elío ran for the Liberal Party but received far fewer votes than the winner.
For the 1966 elections, the Liberal Party was the component of the Democratic Institutionalist Alliance
Democratic Institutionalist Alliance
The Democratic Institutionalist Alliance was an electoral political alliance of the Liberal Party and the Republican Socialist Unity Party ....
, with the PURS's Enrique Hertzog
Enrique Hertzog
Enrique Hertzog Garaizabal was a Bolivian politician who was elected President of his country in 1947...
as the coalition's presidential candidate. He polled 11,400 votes (01.13%) and came sixth.
In 1978 Liberal Party allied with the Nationalist Union of the People
Nationalist Union of the People
The Nationalist Union of the People was a right-wing, pro-military electoral political alliance in Bolivia.The UNP was formed in January 1978 by...
and its candidate Juan Pereda
Juan Pereda
Juan Pereda Asbún is a former military general and de facto president of Bolivia . Although he ruled for only four months, his ascent to the presidency marked the beginning of the most unstable period in Bolivian history, with nine presidents in a little over 4 years , in comparison to only one in...
.
The Liberal Party has had no political power in decades.