1993 Venezuelan general election
Presidential election
Turnout 60.16%
General elections were held in Venezuela on 5 December 1993.[1] The presidential elections were won by Rafael Caldera of National Convergence , who received 30.5% of the vote.[2] Democratic Action remained the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, which were elected on separate ballots for the first time.[3] Voter turnout was 60.2%, the lowest since World War II .[4]
Background
The election campaign was dominated by the corruption charges brought against sitting President Carlos Andrés Pérez , which led to his impeachment on 20 May 1993. He was replaced by Octavio Lepage as Acting President until Ramón José Velásquez was elected by Congress as interim President on 5 June. An atmosphere of economic and political crisis prevailed, with general economic problems compounded by a banking crisis, and a declining legitimacy of the traditional main parties, Democratic Action and Copei . The previous year had seen two coup attempts in February and November, reflecting widespread popular discontent with the political establishment.
Rafael Caldera , founder of Copei, rejected his old party and led a "National Convergence " of 17 smaller parties - including the Movement for Socialism , the Democratic Republican Union , the People's Electoral Movement and the Communist Party of Venezuela . His campaign promises included pardoning the 1992 coup plotters, including Hugo Chávez .
The Congressional elections were the first held under a mixed member proportional representation system,[5] modelled on the German system, with some variations.[6] The traditionally dominant Democratic Action and Copei "supported it because it looked the most like the system under which they had prospered".[5] The MMP system continued to use the old formula of assigning seats to states based on multiplying the total population by 0.55%, with a minimum of three deputies from each state (thus over-representing sparsely populated states).[5] Half each state's seats were then elected in single seat districts , and the remainder by closed party list. Parties could receive up to five additional seats based on their national vote total, to provide greater proportionality.[7]
Results
President
Candidate Party Votes % Rafael Caldera National Convergence 1,710,722 30.46 Claudio Fermín Democratic Action 1,325,287 23.60 Oswaldo Álvarez Paz Copei 1,276,506 22.73 Andrés Velásquez Radical Cause 1,232,653 21.95 Modesto Rivero Authentic Renewal Organization 20,814 0.37 Nelso Ojeda Valenzuela Independent Popular Force 18,690 0.33 Luis Alberto Machado Intelligence Revolution 6,851 0.12 Fernando Bianco Community on the Move 5,590 0.10 José Antonio Cova New Democratic Generation 4,937 0.09 Gabriel Puerta Aponte Movement for Popular Democracy 3,746 0.07 Rhona Otolina Formula 1 3,633 0.06 Romuló Abreu Duarte Guiding Venezuelan Spiritual Force 1,554 0.03 Jesús Tang National Party 1,251 0.02 Blas García Núñez Venezuelan Ecological Party 1,198 0.02 Juán Chacín Democratic Organised Power of Renewal Structure 981 0.02 Carmen de González Nationalist Civic Crusade 866 0.02 Felix Díaz Ortega New Order 780 0.01 Temistocles Fernández Total Independent 640 0.01 Total 5,616,699 100.00 Valid votes 5,616,699 96.35 Invalid/blank votes 212,517 3.65 Total votes 5,829,216 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 9,688,795 60.16 Source: Nohlen, PDBA
Senate
Party Votes % Seats +/– Democratic Action 1,165,322 24.08 16 –6 Copei 1,103,896 22.81 14 –6 Radical Cause 1,005,816 20.78 9 +9 National Convergence 650,352 13.44 6 New Movement for Socialism 526,197 10.87 5 – Authentic Renewal Organization 41,157 0.85 0 0 People's Electoral Movement 26,545 0.55 0 0 Democratic Republican Union 25,732 0.53 0 0 National Integration Movement 23,459 0.48 0 New Communist Party of Venezuela 18,862 0.39 0 0 New Democratic Generation 14,159 0.29 0 –1 National Opinion 13,794 0.28 0 0 Independent Popular Force 12,908 0.27 0 – Formula 1 12,524 0.26 0 0 Emerging People 10,709 0.22 0 – PCI 10,092 0.21 0 – Emerging People 9,901 0.20 0 – Community Development 9,656 0.20 0 – Nationalist United Front 8,791 0.18 0 – National Renewal Movement 8,322 0.17 0 – Advanced Popular 8,256 0.17 0 – Movement for Popular Democracy 8,117 0.17 0 – OCIM 6,352 0.13 0 – GIRASOL 5,647 0.12 0 – Active Democratic Nationalist Organisation 5,089 0.11 0 – Venezuelan Ecological Party 4,613 0.10 0 – UVI 4,494 0.09 0 – Renewal 4,208 0.09 0 – Popular Democratic Force 4,002 0.08 0 – MERY 3,883 0.08 0 – Community on the Move 3,830 0.08 0 – Patriotic Union 3,018 0.06 0 – Socialist League 2,858 0.06 0 – New Order 2,772 0.06 0 – CARICUAO DECIDE 2,597 0.05 0 – U 2,574 0.05 0 – FT 2,440 0.05 0 – The People to Power 2,297 0.05 0 – MACARIO 2,283 0.05 0 – CUMANAGOTOS 2,060 0.04 0 – Democratic Organised Power of Renewal Structure 2,045 0.04 0 – Social Project 1,979 0.04 0 – Democratic Factor 1,972 0.04 0 – Independent Nationalist Organisation 1,938 0.04 0 – OI 1,897 0.04 0 – Integral Democratic Movement 1,844 0.04 0 – Out of Love for Venezuela 1,733 0.04 0 – Common Sense 1,678 0.03 0 – National Party 1,478 0.03 0 – ASI 1,387 0.03 0 – UO 1,313 0.03 0 – Electoral Renewal Integration 1,310 0.03 0 – Independents with Change 1,266 0.03 0 – National Integration Front 1,215 0.03 0 – FACTOR E 1,140 0.02 0 – Guiding Venezuelan Spiritual Force 1,132 0.02 0 – AGAIN 1,107 0.02 0 – DCARA 1,098 0.02 0 – DECISION COJEDENA 1,062 0.02 0 – Republican Movement 1,060 0.02 0 – FIE 1,018 0.02 0 – CHACAO 92 944 0.02 0 – Union for Progress (Venezuela) 924 0.02 0 – CPPP 889 0.02 0 – IDEAL 864 0.02 0 – Nationalist Civic Crusade 862 0.02 0 – New Republic 849 0.02 0 – NI 830 0.02 0 – MAR 798 0.02 0 – VO 794 0.02 0 – PND 785 0.02 0 – Independent Action Force 781 0.02 0 – MIPO 766 0.02 0 – CD 725 0.01 0 – UCII 678 0.01 0 – FOVE 654 0.01 0 – Socialist Workers' Party 649 0.01 0 – CIPREA 644 0.01 0 – Agricultural Action 630 0.01 0 – VCI 583 0.01 0 – M93 575 0.01 0 – DDP 546 0.01 0 – PEM 539 0.01 0 – MAP 505 0.01 0 – MIAP 482 0.01 0 – PUNI 482 0.01 0 – FURIA 426 0.01 0 – MIO 415 0.01 0 – JL 396 0.01 0 – MRI 384 0.01 0 – UPC 364 0.01 0 – MDIPG 357 0.01 0 – MONCHO 350 0.01 0 – LVP 350 0.01 0 – EREDE 344 0.01 0 – PENSAMIENTO NACIONAL 340 0.01 0 – VIA 319 0.01 0 – New Time 318 0.01 0 – MIL 308 0.01 0 – DAR 304 0.01 0 – Majoritarian Independent Committee 303 0.01 0 – GRITO VECINAL 289 0.01 0 – BP 286 0.01 0 – FIG 277 0.01 0 – VEA 275 0.01 0 – Independent Committee 258 0.01 0 – EPI 251 0.01 0 – PODER 7 232 0.00 0 – PINDD 230 0.00 0 – REPO 225 0.00 0 – MIP 209 0.00 0 – GEVE 198 0.00 0 – MIRE 198 0.00 0 – Independent Solidarity 197 0.00 0 – National Authentic Party 195 0.00 0 – FIC 188 0.00 0 – ARDE 181 0.00 0 – MIIDEA 174 0.00 0 – CRA 173 0.00 0 – CDA 172 0.00 0 – ACONA 172 0.00 0 – RA 147 0.00 0 – MDV 133 0.00 0 – CIN 124 0.00 0 – FUPSSB 121 0.00 0 – MINERO 118 0.00 0 – SOL 118 0.00 0 – AVI 116 0.00 0 – MIDV 114 0.00 0 – ISA 113 0.00 0 – FE 111 0.00 0 – MICA 94 0.00 0 – GEIJM 93 0.00 0 – LVY 89 0.00 0 – MNVI 84 0.00 0 – CADEM 80 0.00 0 – CP 75 0.00 0 – PEIP 75 0.00 0 – GDP 72 0.00 0 – MPN 66 0.00 0 – TNSD 57 0.00 0 – MAICITO 54 0.00 0 – ORI 50 0.00 0 – EEF 94 39 0.00 0 – Apureño Independent Movement 36 0.00 0 – FEG 36 0.00 0 – GAP 25 0.00 0 – YIP 25 0.00 0 – MIPAYCA 24 0.00 0 – MAICITO 21 0.00 0 – CIV 11 0.00 0 – MIDEAS 11 0.00 0 – OIPLR 10 0.00 0 – Republican Democratic Party 5 0.00 0 – MEIAMA 4 0.00 0 – AUV 3 0.00 0 – PE 1 0.00 0 – Total 4,840,047 100.00 50 +4 Valid votes 4,840,047 83.03 Invalid/blank votes 989,169 16.97 Total votes 5,829,216 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 9,688,795 60.16 Source: Nohlen, Cavuta
Chamber of Deputies
Party Votes % Seats +/– Democratic Action 1,099,728 23.34 55 –42 Copei 1,065,512 22.62 53 –14 Radical Cause 974,190 20.68 40 +37 National Convergence 651,918 13.84 26 New Movement for Socialism 509,068 10.81 24 – Authentic Renewal Organization 41,085 0.87 1 –1 National Integration Movement 29,433 0.62 1 New People's Electoral Movement 27,635 0.59 1 –1 Democratic Republican Union 26,299 0.56 1 –1 Communist Party of Venezuela 21,180 0.45 0 –1 New Democratic Generation 16,680 0.35 1 –5 National Opinion 13,725 0.29 0 –1 Formula 1 13,091 0.28 0 –2 Independent Popular Force 12,730 0.27 0 – Emerging People 12,525 0.27 0 – Community Development 10,541 0.22 0 – Movement for Popular Democracy 9,680 0.21 0 – Nationalist United Front 9,333 0.20 0 – PCI 8,293 0.18 0 – National Renewal Movement 8,223 0.17 0 – Advanced Popular 7,754 0.16 0 – GIRASOL 6,815 0.14 0 – OCIM 6,685 0.14 0 – Renewal 5,538 0.12 0 – GP 5,459 0.12 0 – Venezuelan Ecological Party 5,363 0.11 0 – UVI 4,853 0.10 0 – Active Democratic Nationalist Organisation 4,842 0.10 0 – Socialist League 4,063 0.09 0 – MELI 3,995 0.08 0 – Community on the Move 3,558 0.08 0 – Popular Democratic Force 3,409 0.07 0 – Patriotic Union 3,341 0.07 0 – CARICUAO DECIDE 2,957 0.06 0 – Common Sense 2,915 0.06 0 – New Order 2,759 0.06 0 – The People to Power 2,546 0.05 0 – FT 2,516 0.05 0 – Democratic Factor 2,423 0.05 0 – U 2,281 0.05 0 – OI 2,232 0.05 0 – National Party 2,059 0.04 0 – Out of Love for Venezuela 1,999 0.04 0 – Social Project 1,986 0.04 0 – Democratic Organised Power of Renewal Structure 1,975 0.04 0 – MACARIO 1,962 0.04 0 – Integral Democratic Movement 1,910 0.04 0 – UO 1,654 0.04 0 – CUMANAGATOS 1,611 0.03 0 – Electoral Renewal Integration 1,555 0.03 0 – National Integration Front 1,495 0.03 0 – FACTOR E 1,436 0.03 0 – Guiding Venezuelan Spiritual Force 1,412 0.03 0 – MRM 1,377 0.03 0 – ASI 1,367 0.03 0 – Republican Movement 1,229 0.03 0 – Independent Nationalist Organisation 1,119 0.02 0 – AGAIN 1,092 0.02 0 – DE CHACAO 93 991 0.02 0 – FIE 988 0.02 0 – Union for Progress 978 0.02 0 – MAR 975 0.02 0 – Nationalist Civic Crusade 970 0.02 0 – IDEAL 944 0.02 0 – MONCHO 931 0.02 0 – PND 929 0.02 0 – Independent Action Force 914 0.02 0 – NI 909 0.02 0 – UCII 883 0.02 0 – MIPO 855 0.02 0 – CD 816 0.02 0 – VO 814 0.02 0 – Agricultural Action 800 0.02 0 – M93 793 0.02 0 – DCARA 766 0.02 0 – GIO 755 0.02 0 – Independents with Change 719 0.02 0 – DECISION COJEDENA 719 0.02 0 – TMSD 702 0.01 0 – LIDER 669 0.01 0 – Socialist Workers' Party 629 0.01 0 – LSN 621 0.01 0 – FURIA 613 0.01 0 – UPC 548 0.01 0 – DDP 536 0.01 0 – Organised Independent Movement 518 0.01 0 – VCI 506 0.01 0 – MIAP 496 0.01 0 – National Authentic Party 487 0.01 0 – CPPP 443 0.01 0 – PUNI 440 0.01 0 – EREDE 409 0.01 0 – ACONA 401 0.01 0 – MDIPG 372 0.01 0 – MOREPO 34 352 0.01 0 – MRI 351 0.01 0 – DAR 344 0.01 0 – EEF 94 331 0.01 0 – Majoritarian Independent Committee 319 0.01 0 – MS 316 0.01 0 – VIA 313 0.01 0 – ISA 310 0.01 0 – VIENE 308 0.01 0 – Independent Solidarity 301 0.01 0 – LVP 299 0.01 0 – MIDV 296 0.01 0 – GRITO VECINAL 278 0.01 0 – New Republic 271 0.01 0 – FIC 258 0.01 0 – Independent Committee 251 0.01 0 – MIL 247 0.01 0 – AMIGOS DE ANZOATEC 240 0.01 0 – PODER 7 237 0.01 0 – PENSAMIENTO NACION 233 0.00 0 – CRA 226 0.00 0 – CRA 219 0.00 0 – EPI 218 0.00 0 – MIIDEA 207 0.00 0 – REPO 203 0.00 0 – CIPREA 202 0.00 0 – MIRE 199 0.00 0 – GEVE 198 0.00 0 – GEIJM 196 0.00 0 – MNVI 192 0.00 0 – PINDD 191 0.00 0 – MAP 188 0.00 0 – RA 179 0.00 0 – GAP 171 0.00 0 – FIG 139 0.00 0 – CIN 136 0.00 0 – ORI 129 0.00 0 – MDV 129 0.00 0 – FUPSSB 122 0.00 0 – PPIM 110 0.00 0 – MINERO 102 0.00 0 – ARDE 101 0.00 0 – SOL 99 0.00 0 – MPN 97 0.00 0 – DCA 95 0.00 0 – LVY 85 0.00 0 – New Time 82 0.00 0 – VEA 81 0.00 0 – PEM 81 0.00 0 – BP 80 0.00 0 – MICA 74 0.00 0 – EEE 74 0.00 0 – MAI 69 0.00 0 – PEIPP 58 0.00 0 – MOPAIS 57 0.00 0 – MALU 55 0.00 0 – FEG 52 0.00 0 – CADEM 43 0.00 0 – CEMI 29 0.00 0 – MEIAMA 24 0.00 0 – MIPAYCA 23 0.00 0 – FOVE 22 0.00 0 – YIP 16 0.00 0 – Apureño Independent Movement 11 0.00 0 – OIPNR 10 0.00 0 – MAICITO 10 0.00 0 – OAP 9 0.00 0 – CIV 8 0.00 0 – MIIDEA 4 0.00 0 – JL 4 0.00 0 – AUV 3 0.00 0 – Republican Democratic Party 1 0.00 0 – Total 4,711,218 100.00 203 +2 Valid votes 4,711,218 80.82 Invalid/blank votes 1,117,998 19.18 Total votes 5,829,216 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 9,688,795 60.16 Source: Nohlen, Cavuta
Aftermath
Andrés Velásquez of Radical Cause gained 22%, and "filed complaints of irregularities, saying that officials from his party were prevented from witnessing vote counting."[8]
References
^ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II , p555 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
^ Nohlen, p582
^ Nohlen, p575
^ Nohlen, p556
^ a b c Crisp, BF % Rey, JC (2003) "The Sources of Electoral Reform in Venezuela", in Shugart, Matthew Soberg, and Martin P. Wattenberg, Mixed-Member Electoral Systems - The Best of Both Worlds? , Oxford: Oxford University Press , 2003. pp. 173-194(22)
^ Crisp and Rey(2003:189)
^ Crisp and Rey (2003:188)
^ Venezuela Apparently Returns Former President to Power Los Angeles Times, 6 December 1993