Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre, the presidential candidate from the Democracia Cristiana Guatemalteca, Guatemalan Christian Democracy, DCG, and representing a coalition of political parties, right, and his running mate Jorge Carpio Nicolle, center, converse with local civilians while campaigning before the 1982 elections in rural Quiché department, Guatemala, February 1, 1982. The Christian Democrats were running in the elections against the civilian candidate Ángel Aníbal Guevara, who was backed by the military and chosen successor to outgoing president Fernándo Romeo Lucas García, along with other opposition groups. When Guevara was declared the winner on March 7, the opposition candidates protested electoral fraud. Two weeks later on March 23, General Efraín Ríos Montt initiated a coup d'état led by a military junta and all cabinet ministers were replaced.
Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre, the presidential candidate from the Democracia Cristiana Guatemalteca, Guatemalan Christian Democracy, DCG, and representing a coalition of political parties, center right, and politician Vinicio Cerezo, far right, at a campaign rally before the 1982 elections in rural Quiché department, Guatemala, February 1, 1982. The Christian Democrats were running in the elections against the civilian candidate Ángel Aníbal Guevara, who was backed by the military and chosen successor to outgoing president Fernándo Romeo Lucas García, along with other opposition groups. When Guevara was declared the winner on March 7, the opposition candidates protested electoral fraud. Two weeks later on March 23, General Efraín Ríos Montt initiated a coup d'état led by a military junta and all cabinet ministers were replaced.
Guatemalan army soldiers check bus passengers for weapons in Guatemala City, Guatemala, February 1, 1982. Tighter security measures were being taken due to the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for March 7, 1982. In the 36-year domestic armed conflict lasting from 1960-1996, an estimated 200,000 people were killed, up to 45,000 civilians were forcibly disappeared, and between 500,000 and 1.5 million people were internally displaced or fled the country. Guatemala's Historical Clarification Commission determined 93 percent of the violence was perpetrated by the state.
President elect Tancredo Neves (1910-1985) answers questions during a press conference following his election as Brazil's next president in Brasilia, Brazil, 1985. Tancredo Neves was Brazil's first civilian president following 20 years of military rule. Tancredo Neves died in April 1985 and never took power following his inauguration on March 15, 1985.
Men and women line up at a polling station to vote in the presidential and legislative elections in San Salvador, El Salvador, March 28, 1982. National elections were called to transition power from the Junta Revolucionaria de Gobierno, Revolutionary Government Junta, JRG, to a provisional civilian president. The Constituent Assembly elected Álvaro Alfredo Magaña Borja on May 2, 1982.
Men and women line up at a polling station to vote in the presidential and legislative elections in San Salvador, El Salvador, March 28, 1982. National elections were called to transition power from the Junta Revolucionaria de Gobierno, Revolutionary Government Junta, JRG, to a provisional civilian president. The Constituent Assembly elected Álvaro Alfredo Magaña Borja on May 2, 1982.
Men and women line up at a polling station to vote in the presidential and legislative elections in San Salvador, El Salvador, March 28, 1982. National elections were called to transition power from the Junta Revolucionaria de Gobierno, Revolutionary Government Junta, JRG, to a provisional civilian president. The Constituent Assembly elected Álvaro Alfredo Magaña Borja on May 2, 1982.
Indigenous Maya civilians stand in line to vote in Guatemala's national elections in Sololá, Guatemala, March 7, 1982. Various opposition parties were running in the elections against the civilian candidate Ángel Aníbal Guevara, the chosen successor to outgoing president Fernando Romeo Lucas García. When Guevara was declared the winner, all opposition candidates protested electoral fraud. Two weeks later on March 23, 1982, General Efraín Ríos Montt led a three-man military junta in a coup d'état and all cabinet ministers were replaced.
Indigenous Maya civilians stand in line to vote in Guatemala's national elections in Sololá, Guatemala, March 7, 1982. Various opposition parties were running in the elections against the civilian candidate Ángel Aníbal Guevara, the chosen successor to outgoing president Fernando Romeo Lucas García. When Guevara was declared the winner, all opposition candidates protested electoral fraud. Two weeks later on March 23, 1982, General Efraín Ríos Montt led a three-man military junta in a coup d'état and all cabinet ministers were replaced.
Indigenous Maya civilians stand in line to vote in Guatemala's national elections in Sololá, Guatemala, March 7, 1982. Various opposition parties were running in the elections against the civilian candidate Ángel Aníbal Guevara, the chosen successor to outgoing president Fernando Romeo Lucas García. When Guevara was declared the winner, all opposition candidates protested electoral fraud. Two weeks later on March 23, 1982, General Efraín Ríos Montt led a three-man military junta in a coup d'état and all cabinet ministers were replaced.
Guatemalan Army soldiers oversee indigenous Maya civilians as they stand in line to vote in Guatemala's national elections, Sololá, Guatemala, March 7, 1982. Various opposition parties were running in the elections against the civilian candidate Ángel Aníbal Guevara, the chosen successor to outgoing president Fernando Romeo Lucas García. When Guevara was declared the winner, all opposition candidates protested electoral fraud. Two weeks later on March 23, 1982, General Efraín Ríos Montt led a three-man military junta in a coup d'état and all cabinet ministers were replaced.
Guatemalan Army soldiers oversee indigenous Maya civilians as they stand in line to vote in Guatemala's national elections, Sololá, Guatemala, March 7, 1982. Various opposition parties were running in the elections against the civilian candidate Ángel Aníbal Guevara, the chosen successor to outgoing president Fernando Romeo Lucas García. When Guevara was declared the winner, all opposition candidates protested electoral fraud. Two weeks later on March 23, 1982, General Efraín Ríos Montt led a three-man military junta in a coup d'état and all cabinet ministers were replaced.
A woman places her ballot after voting in the national presidential elections in San Salvador, El Salvador, March 25, 1984. José Napoleón Duarte of the Partido Demócrata Cristiano, PDC, was elected president after a second run-off election that ended on May 12, 1984. This victory can be largely attributed to the more than $3 million in aid, both overt and covert, provided by the United States to finance the elections in an effort to produce a moderate reformist government compliant with Washington’s interests.
Men and women line up to vote in the presidential and legislative elections in San Salvador, El Salvador, April 29, 1982. The 1982 elections marked the first year that the Junta Revolucionaria de Gobierno, Revolutionary Government Junta of El Salvador, JRG, voluntarily ceded control to an elected civilian president since their installment through a military coup in 1979. The Legislative Assembly voted for Álvaro Alfredo Magaña Borja as the nation's next president.
Guatemalan Army soldiers and local civilians clear a section of the Pan American Highway blocked by felled trees during the ongoing civil war, Los Encuentros, Guatemala, March 7, 1982. The trees were downed in protest by the guerrilla group Ejército Guerrillero de los Pobres, Guerrilla Army of the Poor, EGP, to block the road the day of the presidential elections. In the 36-year domestic armed conflict lasting from 1960 to 1996, an estimated 200,000 people were killed, up to 45,000 civilians were forcibly disappeared, and between 500,000 and 1.5 million people were internally displaced or fled the country. Guatemala's Historical Clarification Commission determined 93 percent of the violence was committed by government forces.
Guatemalan Army soldiers and local civilians clear a section of the Pan American Highway blocked by felled trees during the ongoing civil war, Los Encuentros, Guatemala, March 7, 1982. The trees were downed in protest by the guerrilla group Ejército Guerrillero de los Pobres, Guerrilla Army of the Poor, EGP, to block the road the day of the presidential elections. In the 36-year domestic armed conflict lasting from 1960 to 1996, an estimated 200,000 people were killed, up to 45,000 civilians were forcibly disappeared, and between 500,000 and 1.5 million people were internally displaced or fled the country. Guatemala's Historical Clarification Commission determined 93 percent of the violence was committed by government forces.
Guatemalan Army soldiers and local civilians clear a section of the Pan American Highway blocked by felled trees during the ongoing civil war, Los Encuentros, Guatemala, March 7, 1982. The trees were downed in protest by the guerrilla group Ejército Guerrillero de los Pobres, Guerrilla Army of the Poor, EGP, to block the road the day of the presidential elections. In the 36-year domestic armed conflict lasting from 1960 to 1996, an estimated 200,000 people were killed, up to 45,000 civilians were forcibly disappeared, and between 500,000 and 1.5 million people were internally displaced or fled the country. Guatemala's Historical Clarification Commission determined 93 percent of the violence was committed by government forces.
Guatemalan Army soldiers and local civilians clear a section of the Pan American Highway blocked by felled trees during the ongoing civil war, Los Encuentros, Guatemala, March 7, 1982. The trees were downed in protest by the guerrilla group Ejército Guerrillero de los Pobres, Guerrilla Army of the Poor, EGP, to block the road the day of the presidential elections. In the 36-year domestic armed conflict lasting from 1960 to 1996, an estimated 200,000 people were killed, up to 45,000 civilians were forcibly disappeared, and between 500,000 and 1.5 million people were internally displaced or fled the country. Guatemala's Historical Clarification Commission determined 93 percent of the violence was committed by government forces.
Guatemalan Army soldiers and local civilians clear a section of the Pan American Highway blocked by felled trees during the ongoing civil war, Los Encuentros, Guatemala, March 7, 1982. The trees were downed in protest by the guerrilla group Ejército Guerrillero de los Pobres, Guerrilla Army of the Poor, EGP, to block the road the day of the presidential elections. In the 36-year domestic armed conflict lasting from 1960 to 1996, an estimated 200,000 people were killed, up to 45,000 civilians were forcibly disappeared, and between 500,000 and 1.5 million people were internally displaced or fled the country. Guatemala's Historical Clarification Commission determined 93 percent of the violence was committed by government forces.
Guatemalan Army soldiers and local civilians clear a section of the Pan American Highway blocked by felled trees during the ongoing civil war, Los Encuentros, Guatemala, March 7, 1982. The trees were downed in protest by the guerrilla group Ejército Guerrillero de los Pobres, Guerrilla Army of the Poor, EGP, to block the road the day of the presidential elections. In the 36-year domestic armed conflict lasting from 1960 to 1996, an estimated 200,000 people were killed, up to 45,000 civilians were forcibly disappeared, and between 500,000 and 1.5 million people were internally displaced or fled the country. Guatemala's Historical Clarification Commission determined 93 percent of the violence was committed by government forces.