Colombian Constitutional Assembly election, 1990

Colombia
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Constitutional Assembly elections were held in Colombia on 9 December 1990 alongside a referendum on the Assembly itself.[1][2] The Assembly sat from February to July 1991 and drew up the 1991 constitution.

Background

After the murder of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán in August 1989, students started a movement calling for a referendum "for peace and democracy" to be held on 21 January 1990.[3] However, under pressure from drug cartels, the government rejected the proposal. The students then set up the "We can still save Colombia" movement, which called for a referendum alongside the general elections on 11 March 1990 on establishing a Constitutional Assembly. The referendum saw 2,235,493 voted in favour and 117,000 vote against.[3]

Following the unofficial referendum, President Virgilio Barco Vargas issued decree 927 on 3 May calling a referendum on electing a Constitutional Assembly alongside the presidential elections on 27 May.[4] Although this was in violation of article 218 of the constitution, which gave Congress sole rights to reform the constitution, the referendum was approved by the Supreme Court.[4]

After 95% of voters approved of the election of the Assembly, elections were set for December. However, new President César Gaviria chose to reinforce the legitimacy of the Assembly by holding a second referendum on its election.[5] Only those who voted "yes" in the referendum could then cast a vote for the Assembly.[4]

The Assembly was elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency.[6]

Results

Constitutional Assembly

Party Votes % Seats
Liberal Party1,070,19329.024
19th of April Movement992,61326.919
National Salvation Movement547,41115.611
Conservative Party423,77511.55
Christian Evangelical Movement115,2013.22
Patriotic Union95,0882.60
United Student Movement64,7111.81
National Indigenous Organization of Colombia31,7830.91
Movement for a New Country for the Children24,6250.11
Indigenous Authorities of Colombia22,4430.11
Metapolitical Unitary Movement20,2250.60
Socialist Workers' Party5,1530.10
Independents208,1345.70
Additional seats awarded to guerrilla groups––4
Invalid/blank votes62,202––
Total3,710,55710075
Registered voters/turnout14,237,11026.1–
Source: Nohlen

Following the election a further four seats were given to guerrilla groups; two to the Popular Liberation Army, one to the Movimiento Armado Quintin Lame and one to the Workers Revolutionary Party.[7]

Referendum

Choice Votes %
For2,988,96397.58
Against74,0552.42
Invalid/blank votes –
Total3,710,557100
Registered voters/turnout14,237,11026.06
Source: Direct Democracy

References

  1. ↑ Elections and Events 1990-1994 UC San Diego
  2. ↑ Colombia, 9 December 1990: Election of a Constitutional Assembly Direct Democracy (German)
  3. 1 2 Colombia, 11 March 1990 Direct Democracy (German)
  4. 1 2 3 Colombia, 27 May 1990: Election of a Constitutional Assembly Direct Democracy (German)
  5. ↑ Anita Breuer (2007) Institutions of Direct Democracy and Accountability in Latin America’s Presidential Democracies Democratization, Vol 14, No 4, August 2007, pp 554–579
  6. ↑ Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p320 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
  7. ↑ Nohlen, p321
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