1873 Chilean parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Chile on 30 March 1873 during the presidency of Federico Errázuriz Zañartu. The election was the first parliamentary election of Errázuriz's presidency and took place during a period of growing conflict within the governing Liberal-Conservative Fusion. The Fusion retained a strong position in Congress, while the government intervened extensively in the electoral process, particularly in Santiago and Valparaíso.

The election occurred at a turning point in Chilean party politics. The longstanding alliance between the Liberal Party and Conservative Party began to break apart in 1873, largely over disputes concerning education and the relationship between the Catholic Church and the state. The Conservatives subsequently left the government, while the Liberals initially governed alone before forming an alliance with the Radical Party in 1875.

Background

The election was held under the Constitution of 1833, before the major electoral reforms enacted in 1874. At the time, the Chamber of Deputies had 72 seats, while the Senate consisted of 38 members, with only part of the Senate renewed at each parliamentary election.

The electoral system remained based on the arrangements established under the 1833 Constitution and subsequent electoral legislation. The Senate was elected indirectly, while deputies were elected through the existing system of electoral qualification and departmental representation. Major changes, including the abolition of the property qualification and the introduction of secret voting, were not enacted until 1874.

The political system was dominated by several established parties. The Liberal-Conservative Fusion, which had supported the governments of the preceding decade, remained the principal governing coalition when the election was held. The National Party, formed by supporters of former president Manuel Montt, and the Radical Party represented important currents outside the Fusion.

During Errázuriz's presidency, disagreements between Liberals and Conservatives became increasingly difficult to contain. Conservative opposition to government policy on education and religious affairs culminated in the resignation of Conservative minister Abdón Cifuentes and the Conservatives' withdrawal from the governing coalition in 1873.

Election

The election was held on 30 March 1873. According to the Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile, the results strongly favored the Liberal-Conservative Fusion over its opponents, although the government made extensive use of administrative influence during the campaign and voting process.

Government intervention was particularly visible in Santiago and Valparaíso. The use of official influence in these urban centers reflected the broader electoral practices of the period, in which presidents, ministers, intendants, and governors could exercise substantial influence over the selection and certification of candidates.

The election took place against a background of increasing demands for electoral reform. Opposition groups criticized the government's ability to influence voter registration, electoral officials, and the conduct of polling. These disputes contributed to the subsequent constitutional and electoral reforms of the following year.

The 1873 election also demonstrated the growing importance of disputes over the role of the Catholic Church in public life. Education and the so-called "theological questions" became central political issues, contributing to the final breakdown of the Liberal-Conservative Fusion.

Results

Seventy-two deputies were elected, while ten of the 38 Senate seats were renewed.

A historical reconstruction based on the parliamentary composition following the election records the Chamber of Deputies as containing representatives of the Liberal, Conservative, National, Radical, and independent groups. The elected deputies included 31 Liberals, 23 Conservatives, 13 Nationals, three Radicals, and two independents.

Ten of the 38 Senate seats were renewed in the election. The Senate continued to be elected indirectly under the constitutional system then in force. Direct popular election of senators was introduced by the constitutional reforms of 1874 and first applied at the 1876 parliamentary election.

The result left the Liberal-Conservative Fusion with a substantial parliamentary presence, but the political alliance itself was already breaking apart. The subsequent withdrawal of the Conservatives from the government changed the balance of political forces during the remainder of Errázuriz's presidency.

Political consequences

The election was followed by the definitive breakdown of the Liberal-Conservative Fusion. Conservative participation in the government ended in 1873, after disputes involving education policy and the relationship between church and state.

The Liberals subsequently sought new allies. After negotiations with Radical leaders, the government formed the Liberal Alliance in 1875, bringing the Liberals and Radicals into a new governing coalition.

The political changes accompanying the election also contributed to the passage of important constitutional and electoral reforms. In 1874, the constitutional system was amended to establish direct election of senators by province and to alter the rules governing representation. A major electoral reform later that year abolished the property-based suffrage qualification and established secret voting.

These reforms changed the character of subsequent parliamentary elections. The 1876 election was conducted under the new system and consequently represented a significant departure from the electoral arrangements that had governed the 1873 contest.

See also

• Politics of Chile
• Liberal-Conservative Fusion
• 1876 Chilean parliamentary election