1978 Bolivian general election


General elections were held in Bolivia on 9 July 1978. The elections were the first held since 1966, with several military coups taking place during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Although Juan Pereda of the Nationalist Union of the People won the presidential elections, more votes were cast than there were registered voters. After examining a number of allegations of fraud and other irregularities, the Electoral Court decided to annul the results on 20 July. The following day, Pereda was installed as President following a military coup. Pereda himself was overthrown by yet another military coup in November, which saw General David Padilla assume the presidency. Fresh elections were held the following year, with Padilla transferring power to his democratically elected successor, Wálter Guevara.

Campaign

Several alliances were formed for the elections:
AllianceParties
Democratic Alliance of National RevolutionAuthentic Revolutionary Party
Democratic Alliance of National RevolutionRevolutionary Nationalist Movement
Democratic and Popular UnionCommunist Party
Democratic and Popular UnionLeftwing Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
Democratic and Popular UnionMovement of the National Left
Democratic and Popular UnionAlliance of the National Left
Democratic and Popular UnionOffensive of the Democratic Left
Democratic and Popular UnionPopular Movement for National Liberation
Democratic and Popular UnionRevolutionary Left Movement
Democratic and Popular UnionSocialist Party–Aponte
Democratic and Popular UnionTupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement
Nationalist Union of the PeopleBarrientista National Union
Nationalist Union of the PeopleBolivian Socialist Falange
Nationalist Union of the PeopleCommittee of National Unity
Nationalist Union of the PeopleRevolutionary Left Party

Juan Pereda was supported in his presidential bid by both the Nationalist Union of the People and the Nationalist Revolutionary Movement of the People, whilst René Bernal Escalante was the candidate of both the PDC–PRB alliance and the Eastern Rural Party.

Results