Radical Liberal Party (Paraguay)

The Radical Liberal Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Radical, PLR) was a political party in Paraguay. It was the largest legal opposition group during the Stroessner regime, but disappeared soon after he was overthrown.

History

The party was established in 1963 after a split in the Liberal Party. After the Renovation Group faction of the Liberal Party returned to Paraguay to become the "official" opposition to the Stroessner regime, the remainder of the party was renamed the Radical Liberal Party.[1] In 1967 members of the PLR also returned to Paraguay to participate in the Constitutional Assembly elections that year.[2] They won 29 of the 120 seats, overtaking the Liberal Party to become the largest of the opposition groups.

In the 1968 general elections the party won nine of the 30 Senate seats and 16 of the 60 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The 1973 elections saw the party lose one Senate seat, but retain all 16 in the Chamber. The party did not contest the 1977 Constitutional Assembly elections, and after the constitution was amended to allow Stroessner to remain in power indefinitely, a majority of members left the party to establish the Authentic Radical Liberal Party.[2]

The party retained its 16 Chamber seats in the 1978 elections, but was reduced to 13 in 1983. After winning 13 seats again in the 1988 elections, the party saw a huge loss of support after Stroessner was overthrown. In the 1989 elections the party's vote share fell from 7.2% to 1.3% and won just a single seat. It did not contest any further elections.[3]

Electoral history

Presidential elections
Election date Party candidate Number of votes Percentage of votes Result
1968 Gustavo González 139,622 21.5% Lost
1973 Gustavo Riart 98,096 12.2% Lost
1978 Germán Acosta Caballero 54,984 5.5% Lost
1983 Enzo Doldan 59,094 5.7% Lost
1988 Luis María Vega 95,450 7.2% Lost

Chamber of Deputies elections
Election date Number of votes Percentage of votes Number of seats +/–
1968 465,535 71.6%
16 / 60
 16
1973 98,096 12.2%
16 / 60
1978 54,984 5.5%
16 / 60
1983 59,094 5.7%
13 / 60
 3
1988 95,450 7.2%
13 / 60
1989 15,083 1.3%
1 / 72
 12

Senate elections
Election date Number of votes Percentage of votes Number of seats +/–
1968 Not released Not released
9 / 30
 9
1973 98,096 12.2%
8 / 30
 1
1978 Not released Not released
10 / 30
 2
1983 Not released Not released
6 / 30
 4
1988 Not released Not released
6 / 30
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References
  1. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p415 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
  2. Nohhlen, p416
  3. Nohlen, p428
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