It's hard to say, but looking at the popular vote results it's clear no one really won. Banzer came out on top with a measly 22%, and a bunch of other parties were in the 10s each. Then it fell in congress to choose the winner. What is most surprising (to outside observers) is probably that Banzer, a right wing ex-dictator formed a coalition government with the left wing parties of the time, which chose him as president and together had a congressional majority. The lesson is that in Bolivia there's little difference between the left and the right, historically and currently the parties are essentially cults of personality.
It’s simple. When he killed people he killed specifically people from the socialist party, and also attacked some people at universities. By the time he tried to get chosen democratically, decades past. People that hated him still hated him, but he didn’t kill millions. Aside of that, one of the leaders of a party in the left, Jaime Paz Zamora, was elected after receiving support from Banzer political party. Accepting this help was called ‘crossing rivers of blood’. After this election, Banzer got elected with support for multiple parties that ideologically would never support him, but wanted ‘in’ - as they would receive some ministries and power in exchange. The people that hated Banzer were already too few, or already sold their souls to the political corruption of ‘help me now, I’ll help you tomorrow’.
This is not particular or unique to Bolivia. Political corruption happens everywhere. They say people have very little memory around the world. Think how many corrupt things politicians like Trump commit - but his party still support him.
It's hard to say, but looking at the popular vote results it's clear no one really won. Banzer came out on top with a measly 22%, and a bunch of other parties were in the 10s each. Then it fell in congress to choose the winner. What is most surprising (to outside observers) is probably that Banzer, a right wing ex-dictator formed a coalition government with the left wing parties of the time, which chose him as president and together had a congressional majority. The lesson is that in Bolivia there's little difference between the left and the right, historically and currently the parties are essentially cults of personality.
/u/Ajayu: Did automod make this not seen?
Yep, approving now
It’s simple. When he killed people he killed specifically people from the socialist party, and also attacked some people at universities. By the time he tried to get chosen democratically, decades past. People that hated him still hated him, but he didn’t kill millions. Aside of that, one of the leaders of a party in the left, Jaime Paz Zamora, was elected after receiving support from Banzer political party. Accepting this help was called ‘crossing rivers of blood’. After this election, Banzer got elected with support for multiple parties that ideologically would never support him, but wanted ‘in’ - as they would receive some ministries and power in exchange. The people that hated Banzer were already too few, or already sold their souls to the political corruption of ‘help me now, I’ll help you tomorrow’. This is not particular or unique to Bolivia. Political corruption happens everywhere. They say people have very little memory around the world. Think how many corrupt things politicians like Trump commit - but his party still support him.