Venezuelan presidential election, 1952
Encyclopedia
Constitutional Assembly elections were held in Venezuela
on 30 November 1952. After its election, the Assembly would nominate a provisional President and then draft a new constitution. Although taking place under military dictatorship with the main opposition party (Democratic Action
) banned, the election was fair enough to permit early results to show an unexpected defeat for the ruling military junta as the Democratic Republican Union
won 62.8% of the vote. The junta blocked the final results from being published and installed General Marcos Pérez Jiménez
as Provisional President, an outcome confirmed by the Constitutional Assembly, which the opposition parties boycotted.
from the 1948 Venezuelan coup d'état
, under the leadership of Carlos Delgado Chalbaud
. His assassination in November 1950 caused delays in the promulgation of the junta's promised electoral law, and afterwards Pérez Jiménez, its most powerful member, opposed the draft law's enfranchisement of all persons over 18, describing it as enfranchising illiterates and minors. Perceived pressure of domestic and international opinion saw the electoral law published in April 1951.
, was banned and was specifically prohibited from participating. The Communist Party of Venezuela
was also banned. In the absence of Democratic Action, the Democratic Republican Union
(URD) was the most powerful opposition party. It seriously considered abstaining, but ultimately decided to participate.
The opposition URD, led by Jóvito Villalba
, and COPEI
, led by Rafael Caldera
, "had to furnish detailed information to the government regarding party-sponsored public meetings, membership rolls, and finances". In addition, press coverage of both parties was censored so strictly that it hardly communicated any more than movements of its leaders, with party policy simply omitted.
In the last weeks of the campaign, a parallel organization outside the political parties was organized to support Pérez Jiménez' push for the presidency; it was announced on 5 November that the "National Movement" had collected 1.6m signatures in support. The movement became so prominent that the President of the Electoral Council reminded the country that it was electing a Constitutional Assembly, not a President.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
on 30 November 1952. After its election, the Assembly would nominate a provisional President and then draft a new constitution. Although taking place under military dictatorship with the main opposition party (Democratic Action
Democratic Action
Democratic Action is a centrist Venezuelan political party established in 1941. The party and its antecedents played an important role in the early years of Venezuelan democracy, and led the government during Venezuela's first democratic period...
) banned, the election was fair enough to permit early results to show an unexpected defeat for the ruling military junta as the Democratic Republican Union
Democratic Republican Union
The Democratic Republican Union is a Venezuelan political party founded in 1945.When the party appeared on course to win the 1952 election for a constitutional assembly, dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez suspended the election...
won 62.8% of the vote. The junta blocked the final results from being published and installed General Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was a soldier and Presidents of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958.-Career:Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was born in Michelena, Táchira State. His father, Juan Pérez Bustamante, was a farmer; his mother, Adela Jiménez, a schoolteacher...
as Provisional President, an outcome confirmed by the Constitutional Assembly, which the opposition parties boycotted.
Background
Venezuela had been run by a three-person juntaMilitary junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
from the 1948 Venezuelan coup d'état
1948 Venezuelan coup d'état
The 1948 Venezuelan coup d'état took place on 27 November 1948, when Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, Marcos Pérez Jiménez and Luis Felipe Llovera Páez overthrew the elected president Rómulo Gallegos. Gallegos had been elected in the Venezuelan presidential election, 1947 and taken office in February 1948...
, under the leadership of Carlos Delgado Chalbaud
Carlos Delgado Chalbaud
Carlos Román Delgado Chalbaud Gómez was a Venezuelan career military officer, and as leader of a military junta was President of Venezuela from 1948 to 1950. By 1945 he was a high-ranking officer and was among the leaders of a military coup which brought to power the mass membership party...
. His assassination in November 1950 caused delays in the promulgation of the junta's promised electoral law, and afterwards Pérez Jiménez, its most powerful member, opposed the draft law's enfranchisement of all persons over 18, describing it as enfranchising illiterates and minors. Perceived pressure of domestic and international opinion saw the electoral law published in April 1951.
Campaign
The main party of the Venezuelan opposition, and of the previous democratic government, Democratic ActionDemocratic Action
Democratic Action is a centrist Venezuelan political party established in 1941. The party and its antecedents played an important role in the early years of Venezuelan democracy, and led the government during Venezuela's first democratic period...
, was banned and was specifically prohibited from participating. The Communist Party of Venezuela
Communist Party of Venezuela
The Communist Party of Venezuela is a Marxist-Leninist political party, and the oldest continuously existing party in Venezuela...
was also banned. In the absence of Democratic Action, the Democratic Republican Union
Democratic Republican Union
The Democratic Republican Union is a Venezuelan political party founded in 1945.When the party appeared on course to win the 1952 election for a constitutional assembly, dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez suspended the election...
(URD) was the most powerful opposition party. It seriously considered abstaining, but ultimately decided to participate.
The opposition URD, led by Jóvito Villalba
Jóvito Villalba
Jóvito Villalba Gutiérrez , was a Venezuelan lawyer and politician, member of the Generation of 1928, founder of the party URD and signer of the Punto Fijo Pact.-Background:...
, and COPEI
COPEI
Copei – Social Christian Party of Venezuela is a third way political party in Venezuela. The name stands for Comité de Organización Política Electoral Independiente...
, led by Rafael Caldera
Rafael Caldera
Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez was president of Venezuela from 1969 to 1974 and again from 1994 to 1999.Caldera taught sociology and law at various universities before entering politics. He was a founding member of COPEI, Venezuela's Christian Democratic party...
, "had to furnish detailed information to the government regarding party-sponsored public meetings, membership rolls, and finances". In addition, press coverage of both parties was censored so strictly that it hardly communicated any more than movements of its leaders, with party policy simply omitted.
In the last weeks of the campaign, a parallel organization outside the political parties was organized to support Pérez Jiménez' push for the presidency; it was announced on 5 November that the "National Movement" had collected 1.6m signatures in support. The movement became so prominent that the President of the Electoral Council reminded the country that it was electing a Constitutional Assembly, not a President.