1978 Dominican Republic general election

General elections were held in the Dominican Republic on 16 May 1978.[1] Following diplomatic pressure from American President Jimmy Carter, the elections were free and competitive and contested by all political parties, unlike the previous elections in the 1970s.[2] Antonio Guzmán Fernández won the presidential election, whilst his Dominican Revolutionary Party (which had not contested the 1970 and 1974 elections) won the Congressional elections. Voter turnout was 75.8%.[3]

1978 Dominican Republic presidential election

16 May 1978

Nominee Antonio Guzmán Joaquín Balaguer Party PRD PR Popular vote 866,912 711,878 Percentage 52.4% 43.0%

President before election Joaquín Balaguer PR Elected President Antonio Guzmán PRD

When counting showed an unmistakable trend toward Guzmán, the Army attempted a coup and interrupted the vote count, only to back down amid protests at home and strong pressure from abroad. The final count showed Balaguer had suffered the first defeat of his career.[2][4][5] Although Guzmán was allowed to assume the presidency, the Central Elections Authority redistributed the uncast votes equally between the PRD and the Reformist Party, diminishing the PRD's majority in Congress.[2]

Guzmán's swearing-in on 16 August marked the first time in the country's history that a sitting government had peacefully surrendered power to an elected member of the opposition.

Results

President

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Antonio Guzmán Fernández	Dominican Revolutionary Party	866,912	52.4
Joaquín Balaguer	Reformist Party	711,878	43.0
Francisco Lora	Movement of Democratic Integration	27,095	1.6
Juan Bosch	Dominican Liberation Party	18,375	1.1
Narciso Isa Conde	Dominican Communist Party	9,828	0.6
Alfonso Lockward	Social Christian Revolutionary Party	7,981	0.5
Luis Julián Pérez	National Salvation Movement	7,782	0.5
Luis Homero Lajara Burgos	Popular Democratic Party	5,956	0.4
Invalid/blank votes		85,530	–
Total		1,741,337	100
Source: Nohlen

Results of the Dominican Republic presidential election, May 16th, 1978, by province (candidate in first position)

  Antonio Guzmán Fernández

  Joaquín Balaguer

Congress

Party	Votes	%	House		Senate
			Seats	+/–	Seats	+/–
Dominican Revolutionary Party	838,973	50.1	48	New	16	New
Reformist Party	692,146	42.1	43	–32	11	–12
Dominican Liberation Party	18,565	1.1	0	New	0	New
Movement of Democratic Integration	13,317	0.8	0	New	0	New
National Civic Union	13,316	0.8	0	New	0	New
Social Democratic Alliance	11,056	0.7	0	New	0	New
Dominican Communist Party	10,751	0.7	0	New	0	New
Movement of National Reconciliation	7,743	0.5	0	New	0	New
National Salvation Movement	7,727	0.5	0	New	0	New
Democratic Quisqueyano Party	5,984	0.4	0	New	0	New
Popular Democratic Party	5,667	0.3	0	–3	0	0
Movimento Popular Justicialista	9,226	0.6	0	New	0	New
Movimento Revolucionario del Pueblo			0	New	0	New
Movimento Municipal del Pueblo			0	–1	0	0
Movimento Restaurador Santuagúes			0	New	0	New
Movimento Unión Provincial Independiente			0	New	0	New
Invalid/blank votes	85,530	–	–	–	–	–
Total	1,731,095	100	91	0	27	0
Source: Nohlen

References

1. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p247 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
2. Nohlen, p241
3. Nohlen, p248
4. Dominican Republic Inter-Parliamentary Union
5. Buckman, Robert T. (2007). The World Today Series: Latin America 2007. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications. ISBN 978-1-887985-84-0.