General elections were held in Cuba on 3 November 1958. The three major presidential candidates were Carlos Márquez Sterling of the Partido del Pueblo Libre, Ramón Grau of the Partido Auténtico and Andrés Rivero Agüero of the Coalición Progresista Nacional. There was also a minor party candidate on the ballot, Alberto Salas Amaro for Partido Union Cubana, who received 1% of the vote. Voter turnout was estimated at 50% of eligible voters.Manuel Marquez-Sterling (2009) Cuba 1952-1959: The True Story of Castro's Rise to Power, Kleiopatria Digital Press Although Andrés Rivero Agüero won the presidential election with 70% of the vote, he and all other elected officials were unable to take office due to the Cuban Revolution, which overthrew then-president Fulgencio Batista.Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p217 This was the last competitive election in Cuba.
With the revolution overthrowing Batista, Anselmo Alliegro y Milá briefly became president on 1 January 1959, before being replaced by the Chief Justice Carlos Manuel Piedra the following day, who in turn was replaced by Manuel Urrutia Lleó a day later. The 1940 constitution was abrogated and the Congress was quickly dissolved by the revolutionaries shortly thereafter.
Background The rebels had publicly called for an election boycott, issuing its Total War Manifesto on 12 March 1958.
Results President
Chamber of Representatives The 166 members of the Chamber of Representatives were elected; 85 for a four-year term 81 for a two-year term.
Aftermath Rivero Agüero was due to be sworn in on 24 February 1959. In a conversation between him and the American ambassador Earl E. T. Smith on 15 November 1958, he called Castro a "sick man" and stated it would be impossible to reach a settlement with him. Rivero Agüero also said that he planned to restore constitutional government and would convene a Constitutional Assembly after taking office.
Ultimately, none of the officials elected in this election were able to ever take office, as a result of the Cuban Revolution overthrowing President Fulgencio Batista on 1 January 1959.
See also Cuba–United States relations History of Cuba Timeline of Cuban history 1940 Constitution of Cuba Earl E. T. Smith
References
External links Cuba 1958 Articles Cuba, a country study, Federal Research Division Library of Congress Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Cuba, Volume VI/Despatch From the Embassy in Cuba to the Department of State Elections and Events 1952-1959_San Diego Diario La Marina_1, 2 November 1958 Diario La Marina_2, 2 November 1958 1958: Cuba's Last Election Day The 1940 Constitution of Cuba— The 1940 Constitution of Cuba—