1898 Guatemalan presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Guatemala during seven days in September 1898.^[1] Prior to the elections Manuel Estrada Cabrera had established the first real political party in the country's history by admitting people from outside the influential liberals to the Liberal Party.^[2]

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

1898 Guatemalan presidential election

← 1892 September 1898 1904 â†’

Nominee Manuel Estrada Cabrera José León Castillo Party Liberal Liberal Home state Quetzaltenango Guatemala Popular vote 312,797 672 Percentage 99.79% 0.21%

President before election Manuel Estrada Cabrera Liberal President-elect Manuel Estrada Cabrera Liberal

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The elections were regarded as fraudulent; constitutional guarantees had been suspended for a month and opposition candidate José León Castillo had been unable to campaign. Estrada was declared the winner with 99.8% of the vote,^[3] although the number of votes cast is estimated to have been at least three times the number of people eligible to vote at the time.^[4] Legislative Assembly Decree 413 of 26 September declared that Estrada's term of office would begin on 15 March 1899, but he assumed the presidency on 2 October.^[3]