1998 Paraguayan general election

General elections were held in Paraguay on 10 May 1998. Incumbent Juan Carlos Wasmosy could not run again, as the constitution limits the president to a single five-year term with no possibility of re-election.

1998 Paraguayan general election

10 May 1998
Presidential election
Turnout	80.54% ( 11.18pp)
Candidate Raúl Cubas Grau Domingo Laíno Party Colorado DA (PLRA–PEN) Popular vote 887,196 703,379 Percentage 55.35% 43.88%
Results by department
President before election Juan Carlos Wasmosy Colorado President-elect Raúl Cubas Grau Colorado
Chamber of Deputies
All 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies 41 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– Colorado Raúl Cubas Grau 53.78 45 +7 AD (PLRA–PEN) Domingo Laíno 42.77 35 −7 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Senate
All 45 seats in the Senate 23 seats needed for a majority
Party Vote % Seats +/– Colorado 51.74 24 +4 AD (PLRA–PEN) 42.10 20 −5 PB 2.3 1 New This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

The presidential elections were won by Raúl Cubas Grau of the Colorado Party, who received 55% of the vote. In the Congressional elections, the Colorado Party won 45 of the 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 24 of the 45 seats in the Senate, defeating the Democratic Alliance formed by the Authentic Radical Liberal Party and the National Encounter Party. Voter turnout was 80.5%.

To date, this is the only time since the restoration of democracy in Paraguay that a presidential candidate has been elected with a majority of the vote.

Results

President

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Raúl Cubas Grau	Colorado Party	887,196	55.35
	Domingo Laíno	Democratic Alliance (PLRA–PEN)	703,379	43.88
	Luis Alberto Campos Doria	Revolutionary Febrerista Party	8,139	0.51
	Gustavo Bader Ibáñez	National Christian Union	4,192	0.26
Total			1,602,906	100.00
Valid votes			1,602,906	97.10
Invalid/blank votes			47,819	2.90
Total votes			1,650,725	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			2,049,449	80.54
Source: Justicia Electoral

Senate

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Colorado Party	813,287	51.74	24	+4
	Democratic Alliance (PLRA–PEN)	661,764	42.10	20	–5
	National Christian Union	36,424	2.32	1	New
	National Renewal Movement	23,844	1.52	0	New
	Christian Democratic Party	19,891	1.27	0	New
	Revolutionary Febrerista Party	16,667	1.06	0	New
Total		1,571,877	100.00	45	0
Valid votes		1,571,877	95.33
Invalid/blank votes		77,003	4.67
Total votes		1,648,880	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		2,049,449	80.45
Source: Nohle

Chamber of Deputies

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Colorado Party	857,473	53.78	45	+7
	Democratic Alliance (PLRA–PEN)	681,917	42.77	35	–7
	Revolutionary Febrerista Party	20,121	1.26	0	New
	National Renewal Movement	16,863	1.06	0	New
	Christian Democratic Party	9,249	0.58	0	New
	National Christian Union	8,791	0.55	0	New
Total		1,594,414	100.00	80	0
Valid votes		1,594,414	96.67
Invalid/blank votes		55,005	3.33
Total votes		1,649,419	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		2,049,449	80.48
Source: Nohlen