1986 Elections & Political Transitions Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1986 Elections & Political Transitions Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 20 Jan Military coup in Lesotho deposes Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan: On January 20, 1986, a military coup led by Major General Justin Lekhanya overthrew Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan's government in Lesotho. The coup resulted in the establishment of a Military Council, which assumed all executive and legislative powers in the name of King Moshoeshoe II. The new regime banned political activity and announced plans to restore democracy through free and fair elections in the future. source: washingtonpost.com
- 02 Feb Óscar Arias Sánchez elected Costa Rican president: On February 2, 1986, Óscar Arias Sánchez, candidate of the National Liberation Party, won Costa Rica's presidential election, defeating Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier of the Social Christian Unity Party. Arias secured approximately 52% of the vote, while Calderón received about 45%. This victory marked the beginning of Arias's first term as president, during which he focused on economic stabilization and regional peace efforts. source: britannica.com
- 06 Feb Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident established: On February 6, 1986, President Ronald Reagan established the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, chaired by former Secretary of State William P. Rogers. The commission was tasked with investigating the causes of the Challenger disaster, which occurred on January 28, 1986, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members aboard. The commission's final report, released on June 6, 1986, identified the failure of the O-rings in the right solid rocket booster as the primary cause of the accident and recommended significant changes to NASA's safety protocols and organizational structure. source: nasa.gov
- 07 Feb 1986 Philippine presidential election marred by widespread fraud and controversy: The Philippine presidential election held on February 7, 1986, was marked by significant allegations of electoral fraud, violence, and voter intimidation. Opposition candidate Corazon Aquino contested the official results, leading to mass protests and the eventual People Power Revolution that ousted President Ferdinand Marcos. source: latimes.com
- 15 Feb Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed winner of disputed Philippine presidential election: On February 15, 1986, the Marcos-controlled National Assembly declared Ferdinand Marcos the winner of the Philippine presidential election, despite widespread allegations of fraud and irregularities. Opposition candidate Corazon Aquino contested the results, leading to mass protests and the eventual People Power Revolution that ousted Marcos from power. source: cia.gov
- 16 Feb Mário Soares elected as Portugal's first civilian president: On February 16, 1986, Mário Soares, leader of the Socialist Party, was elected as Portugal's first civilian president in 60 years, defeating conservative candidate Diogo Freitas do Amaral in a runoff election. Soares' victory marked a significant milestone in Portugal's post-revolutionary history, ending decades of military influence in the presidency. source: washingtonpost.com
- 24 Feb Key events of the EDSA People Power Revolution on February 24, 1986: On February 24, 1986, significant developments occurred during the EDSA People Power Revolution in the Philippines. In the early morning, the 'Sotelo landing' took place, where helicopters from the Philippine Air Force, led by Colonel Antonio Sotelo, defected and landed at Camp Crame, bolstering the morale of the opposition forces. Later that day, rebels captured government-owned television station MBS-4, restoring its broadcast and symbolizing a shift in media control. Additionally, in the afternoon, helicopters from the 15th Strike Wing attacked Villamor Airbase, disabling presidential air assets without casualties, further weakening the Marcos regime's military capabilities. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 16 May Dominican Republic Parliamentary Election: Joaquín Balaguer's PRSC (Social Christian Reformist Party) wins the Dominican Republic parliamentary election, reinforcing the political landscape of the Caribbean nation.
- 25 May Virgilio Barco wins Colombian presidential election: On May 25, 1986, Virgilio Barco Vargas of the Liberal Party was elected president of Colombia, defeating Conservative Party candidate Álvaro Gómez Hurtado. Barco secured approximately 58% of the vote, while Gómez received about 36%. The election was marked by a significant voter turnout, with Barco's campaign focusing on land reform and economic revitalization. The Liberal Party's success in the March 1986 parliamentary elections further bolstered Barco's presidential bid. source: latimes.com
- 28 May Democratic Labour Party wins 1986 Barbadian general election: On May 28, 1986, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) secured a decisive victory in Barbados' general elections, capturing 24 of the 27 seats in the House of Assembly. This outcome led to Errol Barrow's return as Prime Minister, succeeding the incumbent Harold Bernard St. John of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), who lost his seat. The Workers Party of Barbados participated in the election for the first and only time, presenting two candidates who did not win any seats. Voter turnout was 76.7%. source: upi.com
- 28 Jun Alabama Democratic gubernatorial runoff legal challenge: On June 28, 1986, Charles and Nellie Kent Pike filed an election contest against the results of the Alabama Democratic gubernatorial runoff, alleging illegal crossover voting by Republicans. This legal challenge led to a series of court decisions, including a federal court ruling that invalidated the runoff results and ordered the Democratic Party to either certify Bill Baxley as the nominee or hold a new runoff election. source: latimes.com
- 03 Jul Kuwait's National Assembly dissolved on July 3, 1986: On July 3, 1986, Emir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah dissolved Kuwait's National Assembly indefinitely and suspended several constitutional provisions, including Article 107. This decision followed the grilling of Oil and Industry Minister Sheikh Ali Al-Khalifa Al-Sabah by members of the assembly, marking the first time a ruling family minister faced such scrutiny. The dissolution led to a suspension of parliamentary activities until elections were held on October 5, 1992. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 06 Jul Siege of the Manila Hotel: On July 6, 1986, former vice-presidential candidate Arturo Tolentino and approximately 490 armed soldiers, along with 5,000 civilians loyal to deposed President Ferdinand Marcos, occupied the Manila Hotel in Manila, Philippines. Tolentino proclaimed himself acting president and established a provisional government. The coup attempt ended peacefully after 37 hours, with most participants surrendering or dispersing by July 8. source: washingtonpost.com
- 26 Oct Joh Bjelke-Petersen's Final Election: Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen wins his final election with 38.6% of the vote, later resigning in December 1987 following corruption revelations from the Fitzgerald Inquiry.
- 01 Nov Joh Bjelke-Petersen wins Queensland state election: On November 1, 1986, Queensland held its state election, resulting in a seventh consecutive term for the National Party under Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen. The National Party secured 49 seats, increasing their majority, while the Labor Party won 30 seats, and the Liberal Party obtained 10 seats. This victory bolstered Bjelke-Petersen's position, leading him to initiate the 'Joh for Canberra' campaign, aiming for federal politics. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 04 Nov Democrats regain control of the U.S. Senate in 1986 midterm elections: In the 1986 midterm elections held on November 4, the Democratic Party gained a net of eight seats in the U.S. Senate, defeating seven Republican incumbents and winning two open seats. This shift resulted in the Democrats regaining control of the Senate for the first time since January 1981, with a 55–45 majority. Notable victories included Harry Reid's win in Nevada and Wyche Fowler's victory in Georgia. source: washingtonpost.com
- 21 Nov Central African Republic adopts new constitution: On November 21, 1986, the Central African Republic held a constitutional referendum, resulting in the adoption of a new constitution that established a one-party state under the Central African Democratic Rally (Rassemblement Démocratique Centrafricain, RDC). The constitution set the presidential term at six years without term limits and automatically elected General André Kolingba, who had led the military regime since 1981, as president. The referendum saw a voter turnout of 87.6%, with 92.22% approval for the new constitution. source: en.wikipedia.org
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