1966 Bolivian general election

none General elections were held in Bolivia on 3 July 1966.Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p133 978-0-19-928358-3 René Barrientos of the Front of the Bolivian Revolution (FRB) was elected president with 67% of the vote,Nohlen, p150 whilst the FRB won a majority in both houses of Congress. James Dunkerley describes the election as not free and fair since a major segment of the opposition was excluded from participating.Dunkerley James 1998 The 1997 Bolivian election in historical perspective ISA Occasional Papers 16 The United States government provided covert financial support to back Barrientos and to dissuade opposition parties from boycotting the vote. Background Following the 1964 elections, Barrientos had led a military coup to remove Víctor Paz Estenssoro from power. In May 1965, Juan Lechín Oquendo, a labor leader who was the head of the left faction of the Nationalist Revolutionary Movement, was arrested and expelled from the country.https://fas.org/sgp/advisory/state/bolivia.html Editorial Note U.S. High Level Panel 2004 Foreign involvement The United States government conducted a covert "Political Action Program" in support of Barrientos' plan for elections. The Special Group of the National Security Council, then known as the 303 Committee, recommended backing Barrientos in July 1965 and March 1966.Foreign relations of the United States, 1969-1976. Volume E-11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973-1976 2015 Department of State Office of the Historian Berndt Sara Foreign relations of the United States Washington 147. Editorial Note Jones Halbert Siekmeier James F. Howard Adam M. This backing included payments to Barrientos' emerging coalition and to factions of the Revolutionary National Movement that participated in elections. While the electoral results—a Barrientos victory—were coming in, an NSC memorandumForeign relations of the United States, 1969-1976. Volume E-11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973-1976 2015 Department of State Office of the Historian Berndt Sara Foreign relations of the United States Washington 161. Memorandum Prepared for the 303 Committee, Subject: Results of the Political Action Program for Bolivia Jones Halbert Siekmeier James F. Howard Adam M. summarized that, The objectives of this program have been accomplished. A new political party was built to provide the platform for General Barrientos. This base was reinforced by a coalition of already existing parties. Despite many internal stresses, this pro-Barrientos complex was held together during the crucial pre-electoral period by [1½ lines of source text not declassified] covert financial support. At the same time covert financial assistance was given to [redacted] a rival party to ensure its participation in the elections. In addition, a [redacted] subsidy payment was made to [redacted] a second important opposition party which was considering withdrawing from the electoral process. [...] The combination of providing money and covert guidance to [redacted] contending parties changed the political climate from a volatile, conspiratorial atmosphere with little discussion of peaceful resolution through elections to a full fledged electoral atmosphere with the traditional violence and conspiracy thrust into the background. Campaign Several alliances were formed for the elections:Nohlen, p139 AlliancePartiesChristian Democratic CommunityBolivian Socialist FalangeDemocratic Revolutionary AllianceNational Association of Democratic ProfessionsDemocratic Institutionalist AllianceLiberal PartyRepublican Socialist Unity PartyFront of the Bolivian RevolutionAuthentic Revolutionary PartyPopular Christian MovementSocial Democratic PartyRevolutionary Left PartyLiberation Front of the National LeftCommunist Party and others Results 250px 250px y Presidential candidate Chamber Senate Front of the Bolivian Revolution René Barrientos 677805 82 18 #FF8C00 Christian Democratic Community Bernardino Bilbao Rioja 138001 19 8 #00008B Revolutionary Nationalist Movement–Andrade Víctor Andrade 88392 0 0 Revolutionary Nationalist Movement of the People Mario Díez de Medina 60505 1 1 pink Liberation Front of the National Left Felipe Iñíguez 33458 0 0 #0047AB Democratic Institutionalist Alliance Enrique Hertzog 11330 0 0 #C70000 90503 102 27 1270611 Hofmeister & BambergerHofmeister & Bamberger See also Bolivian National Congress, 1966–1969 References Category:Parliamentary elections in Bolivia Bolivia General Category:Presidential elections in Bolivia Bolivia