1951 Bolivian general election

General elections were held in Bolivia on 6 May 1951.[1] Víctor Paz Estenssoro of the opposition Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR) received the most votes in the presidential election, but as he did not obtain an absolute majority, the National Congress was constitutionally obliged to elect a President on 6 August from the three candidates who received the most public votes. However, on 16 May a military junta assumed responsibility for the Government with Brigadier General Hugo Ballivián as President.

The National Congress was ultimately dissolved by Supreme Decree of 7 June, 1951, which annulled the results of the elections.[2]

Campaign

The Republican Socialist Unity Party (PURS) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) formed the Social Democratic Action alliance to contest the election, with Gabriel Gosalvez of PURS running for President and Roberto Arce of the PSD running for Vice-President.

Results

President

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Víctor Paz Estenssoro	Revolutionary Nationalist Movement	54,129	42.9
Gabriel Gosalvez	Republican Socialist Unity Party	40,381	32.0
Bernardino Bilbao Rioja	Bolivian Socialist Falange	13,259	10.5
Guillermo Gutiérrez Vea Murguía	Bolivian Civic Action	6,654	5.3
Tomás Manuel Elío	Liberal Party	6,530	5.2
José Antonio Arze	Revolutionary Left Party	5,170	4.1
Invalid/blank votes			–
Total		126,123	100
Registered voters/turnout		204,649
Source: Nohlen

Vice-President

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Hernán Siles Zuazo	Revolutionary Nationalist Movement	52,602	43.2
Roberto Arce	Social Democratic Party	38,202	31.4
Alfredo Flores	Bolivian Socialist Falange	12,397	10.2
Julio Salmón	Bolivian Civic Action	6,778	5.6
Bailón Mercado	Liberal Party	6,558	5.4
Abelardo Villalpando Retamozo	Revolutionary Left Party	5,093	4.2
Invalid/blank votes			–
Total		121,630	100
Registered voters/turnout		204,649
Source: OEP

References

1. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p133 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
2. Political Handbook of the World 1956, New York, 1956. p14