1923 Honduran general election

General elections were held in Honduras between 27 and 29 October 1923.[1] Tiburcio Carías Andino received the highest number of votes, with 47% of the ballots cast.[2] However, as no candidate had received an absolute majority in the public vote, Congress would vote on the candidates. However, Congress did not meet again until 1 January the following year.[3] In December President Rafael López Gutiérrez declared a state of siege, suspended the constitution, and announced that he would remain in office in order to keep the peace.[4] Although Congress was dominated by the two liberal parties, they did not want Carías, but also could not agree on a common candidate.[5]

As a result, Carías started a civil war in February, known as the War of Revindication. López Gutiérrez lost the support of his party in several provinces.[6] Scattered fighting took place over two months, with 400 American marines occupying Tegucigalpa.[7]

Background

In April 1923 Carías was selected by the National Party's Central Committee as the party's candidate for president, with Miguel Paz Barahona as his running mate.[8]

Results

President

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Tiburcio Carías Andino	National Party	49,541	47.13
	Policarpo Bonilla	Liberal Constitutionalist Party	35,160	33.45
	Juan Ángel Arias Boquín	Liberal Party	20,424	19.43
Total			105,125	100.00
Source: Nohlen

Congress

Party		Seats
	Liberal Constitutionalist Party	18
	National Party	15
	Liberal Party	9
Total		42
Source: UCSD

References

1. Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p407 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
2. Nohlen, p414
3. Stokes, WS (1950) Honduras: an area study in government Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, p247
4. Dodd, TJ (2005) Tiburcio Carías: portrait of a Honduran political leader Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, p34
5. Euraque, DA (1996) Reinterpreting the banana republic: region and state in Honduras, 1870-1972 Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, p55
6. Dodd, p35
7. Dunkerley, J (1988) Power in the isthmus: a political history of modern Central America London: Verso, p67
8. Dodd, pp32-33

Bibliography

• Argueta, Mario. Tiburcio Carías: anatomía de una época, 1923-1948. Tegucigalpa: Editorial Guaymuras. 1989.
• Argueta, Mario. “El ascenso de Tiburcio Carías Andino.” Revista política de Honduras 4:77-121 (April 1999).
• Bardales B., Rafael. Historia del Partido Nacional de Honduras. Tegucigalpa: Servicopiax Editores. 1980.
• Bulmer-Thomas, Victor. “Honduras since 1930.” Bethell, Leslie, ed. 1991. Central America since independence. New York: Cambridge University Press.
• García Laguardia, Jorge Mario. Honduras: evolución político constitucional 1824-1936. México: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Corte de Constitucionalidad de Guatemala. 1999.
• Mahoney, James. The legacies of liberalism: path dependence and political regimes in Central America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 2001.
• Mariñas Otero, Luis. “La evolución del estado liberal: de la guerra civil a la crisis del 30.” Yankelevich, Pablo, ed. 1990. Honduras. México: Instituto de Investigaciones Dr. José María Mora, Universidad de Guadalajara, Nueva Imagen.
• Martz, John D. Central America, the crisis and the challenge. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. 1959.
• Morris, James A. Honduras: caudillo politics and military rulers. Boulder: Westview Press. 1984.
• Paredes, Lucas. Drama político de Honduras. México: Editora Latinoamericana, S.A. 1958.