1993 Venezuelan general election

General elections were held in Venezuela on 5 December 1993.[1] The presidential elections were won by former president Rafael Caldera of National Convergence, who received 30% of the vote.[2][3] Democratic Action remained the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, which were elected on separate ballots for the first time.[4] Voter turnout was 60%, the lowest since World War II.[5]

1993 Venezuelan general election

5 December 1993
Presidential election
← 1988
1998 →
Turnout60.16%
 
Nominee Rafael Caldera Claudio Fermín
Party CVGC Democratic Action
Popular vote 1,710,722 1,326,287
Percentage 30.46% 23.60%

 
Nominee Oswaldo Álvarez Paz Andrés Velásquez
Party Copei LCR
Popular vote 1,276,506 1,232,653
Percentage 22.73% 21.95%

Results by state

President before election

Ramón José Velásquez
Democratic Action

Elected President

Rafael Caldera
CVGC

The elections were a departure from the traditional two-party system in Venezuela.[3]

Background

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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 presidential election was held under first-past-the-post voting, while the Congressional elections were the first held under a mixed member proportional representation system,[6] modelled on the German system, with some variations.[7] The traditionally dominant Democratic Action and Copei "supported it because it looked the most like the system under which they had prospered".[6] 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).[6] 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.[8]

Results

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President

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Rafael CalderaNational Convergence1,710,72230.46
Claudio FermínDemocratic Action1,325,28723.60
Oswaldo Álvarez PazCopei1,276,50622.73
Andrés VelásquezRadical Cause1,232,65321.95
Modesto RiveroAuthentic Renewal Organization20,8140.37
Nelso Ojeda ValenzuelaIndependent Popular Force18,6900.33
Luis Alberto MachadoIntelligence Revolution6,8510.12
Fernando BiancoCommunity on the Move5,5900.10
José Antonio CovaNew Democratic Generation [es]4,9370.09
Gabriel Puerta AponteMovement for Popular Democracy3,7460.07
Rhona OttolinaFormula 13,6330.06
Romuló Abreu DuarteGuiding Venezuelan Spiritual Force1,5540.03
Jesús TangNational Party1,2510.02
Blas García NúñezVenezuelan Ecological Party1,1980.02
Juán ChacínDemocratic Organised Power of Renewal Structure9810.02
Carmen de GonzálezNationalist Civic Crusade8660.02
Felix Díaz OrtegaNew Order7800.01
Temistocles FernándezTotal Independent6400.01
Total5,616,699100.00
Valid votes5,616,69996.35
Invalid/blank votes212,5173.65
Total votes5,829,216100.00
Registered voters/turnout9,688,79560.16
Source: Nohlen, PDBA

Senate

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Action1,165,32224.0816–6
Copei1,103,89622.8114–6
Radical Cause1,005,81620.789+9
National Convergence650,35213.446New
Movement for Socialism526,19710.875
Authentic Renewal Organization41,1570.8500
People's Electoral Movement26,5450.5500
Democratic Republican Union25,7320.5300
National Integration Movement [es]23,4590.480New
Communist Party of Venezuela18,8620.3900
New Democratic Generation [es]14,1590.290–1
National Opinion [es]13,7940.2800
Independent Popular Force12,9080.270
Formula 112,5240.2600
Emerging People [es]10,7090.220
PCI10,0920.210
GP9,9010.200
Community Development9,6560.200
Nationalist United Front8,7910.180
National Renewal Movement8,3220.170
Advanced Popular8,2560.170
Movement for Popular Democracy8,1170.170
OCIM6,3520.130
GIRASOL5,6470.120
Active Democratic Nationalist Organisation5,0890.110
Venezuelan Ecological Party4,6130.100
UVI4,4940.090
Renewal4,2080.090
Popular Democratic Force [es]4,0020.080
MERY3,8830.080
Community on the Move3,8300.080
Patriotic Union3,0180.060
Socialist League2,8580.060
New Order2,7720.060
CARICUAO DECIDE2,5970.050
U2,5740.050
FT2,4400.050
The People to Power2,2970.050
MACARIO2,2830.050
CUMANAGOTOS2,0600.040
Democratic Organised Power of Renewal Structure2,0450.040
Social Project1,9790.040
Democratic Factor1,9720.040
Independent Nationalist Organisation1,9380.040
OI1,8970.040
Integral Democratic Movement1,8440.040
Out of Love for Venezuela1,7330.040
Common Sense1,6780.030
National Party1,4780.030
ASI1,3870.030
UO1,3130.030
Electoral Renewal Integration1,3100.030
Independents with Change1,2660.030
National Integration Front1,2150.030
FACTOR E1,1400.020
Guiding Venezuelan Spiritual Force1,1320.020
AGAIN1,1070.020
DCARA1,0980.020
DECISION COJEDENA1,0620.020
Republican Movement1,0600.020
FIE1,0180.020
CHACAO 929440.020
Union for Progress (Venezuela)9240.020
CPPP8890.020
IDEAL8640.020
Nationalist Civic Crusade8620.020
New Republic8490.020
NI8300.020
MAR7980.020
VO7940.020
PND7850.020
Independent Action Force7810.020
MIPO7660.020
CD7250.010
UCII6780.010
FOVE6540.010
Socialist Workers' Party6490.010
CIPREA6440.010
Agricultural Action6300.010
VCI5830.010
M935750.010
DDP5460.010
PEM5390.010
MAP5050.010
MIAP4820.010
PUNI4820.010
FURIA4260.010
MIO4150.010
JL3960.010
MRI3840.010
UPC3640.010
MDIPG3570.010
MONCHO3500.010
LVP3500.010
EREDE3440.010
PENSAMIENTO NACIONAL3400.010
VIA3190.010
New Time3180.010
MIL3080.010
DAR3040.010
Majoritarian Independent Committee3030.010
GRITO VECINAL2890.010
BP2860.010
FIG2770.010
VEA2750.010
Independent Committee2580.010
EPI2510.010
PODER 72320.000
PINDD2300.000
REPO2250.000
MIP2090.000
GEVE1980.000
MIRE1980.000
Independent Solidarity1970.000
National Authentic Party1950.000
FIC1880.000
ARDE1810.000
MIIDEA1740.000
CRA1730.000
CDA1720.000
ACONA1720.000
RA1470.000
MDV1330.000
CIN1240.000
FUPSSB1210.000
MINERO1180.000
SOL1180.000
AVI1160.000
MIDV1140.000
ISA1130.000
FE1110.000
MICA940.000
GEIJM930.000
LVY890.000
MNVI840.000
CADEM800.000
CP750.000
PEIP750.000
GDP720.000
MPN660.000
TNSD570.000
MAICITO540.000
ORI500.000
EEF 94390.000
Apureño Independent Movement360.000
FEG360.000
GAP250.000
YIP250.000
MIPAYCA240.000
MAICITO210.000
CIV110.000
MIDEAS110.000
OIPLR100.000
Republican Democratic Party50.000
MEIAMA40.000
AUV30.000
PE10.000
Total4,840,047100.0050+4
Valid votes4,840,04783.03
Invalid/blank votes989,16916.97
Total votes5,829,216100.00
Registered voters/turnout9,688,79560.16
Source: Nohlen, Cavuta

Chamber of Deputies

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Action1,099,72823.3455–42
Copei1,065,51222.6253–14
Radical Cause974,19020.6840+37
National Convergence651,91813.8426New
Movement for Socialism509,06810.8124
Authentic Renewal Organization41,0850.871–1
National Integration Movement [es]29,4330.621New
People's Electoral Movement27,6350.591–1
Democratic Republican Union26,2990.561–1
Communist Party of Venezuela21,1800.450–1
New Democratic Generation [es]16,6800.351–5
National Opinion [es]13,7250.290–1
Formula 113,0910.280–2
Independent Popular Force12,7300.270
Emerging People [es]12,5250.270
Community Development10,5410.220
Movement for Popular Democracy9,6800.210
Nationalist United Front9,3330.200
PCI8,2930.180
National Renewal Movement8,2230.170
Advanced Popular7,7540.160
GIRASOL6,8150.140
OCIM6,6850.140
Renewal5,5380.120
GP5,4590.120
Venezuelan Ecological Party5,3630.110
UVI4,8530.100
Active Democratic Nationalist Organisation4,8420.100
Socialist League4,0630.090
MELI3,9950.080
Community on the Move3,5580.080
Popular Democratic Force [es]3,4090.070
Patriotic Union3,3410.070
CARICUAO DECIDE2,9570.060
Common Sense2,9150.060
New Order2,7590.060
The People to Power2,5460.050
FT2,5160.050
Democratic Factor2,4230.050
U2,2810.050
OI2,2320.050
National Party2,0590.040
Out of Love for Venezuela1,9990.040
Social Project1,9860.040
Democratic Organised Power of Renewal Structure1,9750.040
MACARIO1,9620.040
Integral Democratic Movement1,9100.040
UO1,6540.040
CUMANAGATOS1,6110.030
Electoral Renewal Integration1,5550.030
National Integration Front1,4950.030
FACTOR E1,4360.030
Guiding Venezuelan Spiritual Force1,4120.030
MRM1,3770.030
ASI1,3670.030
Republican Movement1,2290.030
Independent Nationalist Organisation1,1190.020
AGAIN1,0920.020
DE CHACAO 939910.020
FIE9880.020
Union for Progress9780.020
MAR9750.020
Nationalist Civic Crusade9700.020
IDEAL9440.020
MONCHO9310.020
PND9290.020
Independent Action Force9140.020
NI9090.020
UCII8830.020
MIPO8550.020
CD8160.020
VO8140.020
Agricultural Action8000.020
M937930.020
DCARA7660.020
GIO7550.020
Independents with Change7190.020
DECISION COJEDENA7190.020
TMSD7020.010
LIDER6690.010
Socialist Workers' Party6290.010
LSN6210.010
FURIA6130.010
UPC5480.010
DDP5360.010
Organised Independent Movement5180.010
VCI5060.010
MIAP4960.010
National Authentic Party4870.010
CPPP4430.010
PUNI4400.010
EREDE4090.010
ACONA4010.010
MDIPG3720.010
MOREPO 343520.010
MRI3510.010
DAR3440.010
EEF 943310.010
Majoritarian Independent Committee3190.010
MS3160.010
VIA3130.010
ISA3100.010
VIENE3080.010
Independent Solidarity3010.010
LVP2990.010
MIDV2960.010
GRITO VECINAL2780.010
New Republic2710.010
FIC2580.010
Independent Committee2510.010
MIL2470.010
AMIGOS DE ANZOATEC2400.010
PODER 72370.010
PENSAMIENTO NACION2330.000
CRA2260.000
CRA2190.000
EPI2180.000
MIIDEA2070.000
REPO2030.000
CIPREA2020.000
MIRE1990.000
GEVE1980.000
GEIJM1960.000
MNVI1920.000
PINDD1910.000
MAP1880.000
RA1790.000
GAP1710.000
FIG1390.000
CIN1360.000
ORI1290.000
MDV1290.000
FUPSSB1220.000
PPIM1100.000
MINERO1020.000
ARDE1010.000
SOL990.000
MPN970.000
DCA950.000
LVY850.000
New Time820.000
VEA810.000
PEM810.000
BP800.000
MICA740.000
EEE740.000
MAI690.000
PEIPP580.000
MOPAIS570.000
MALU550.000
FEG520.000
CADEM430.000
CEMI290.000
MEIAMA240.000
MIPAYCA230.000
FOVE220.000
YIP160.000
Apureño Independent Movement110.000
OIPNR100.000
MAICITO100.000
OAP90.000
CIV80.000
MIIDEA40.000
JL40.000
AUV30.000
Republican Democratic Party10.000
Total4,711,218100.00203+2
Valid votes4,711,21880.82
Invalid/blank votes1,117,99819.18
Total votes5,829,216100.00
Registered voters/turnout9,688,79560.16
Source: Nohlen, Cavuta

Aftermath

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Andrés Velásquez of Radical Cause gained 22%, and "filed complaints of irregularities, saying that officials from his party were prevented from witnessing vote counting."[9]

References

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  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p555 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
  2. ^ Nohlen, p582
  3. ^ a b Landman, Todd (1995). "'El Chiripero' wins: the Venezuelan elections of 1993". Electoral Studies. 14 (1): 100–104. doi:10.1016/0261-3794(95)95776-7. ISSN 0261-3794.
  4. ^ Nohlen, p575
  5. ^ Nohlen, p556
  6. ^ 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)
  7. ^ Crisp and Rey(2003:189)
  8. ^ Crisp and Rey (2003:188)
  9. ^ Venezuela Apparently Returns Former President to Power Los Angeles Times, 6 December 1993