Arturo Araujo won the presidential elections running on a Labor Party–National Republican Party ticket.

Previous elections had usually seen the incumbents choosing their successors, allowing the oligarchy perpetual control of the country's politics.

[2] However, the newly elected Assembly consisted largely of Arajuo supporters, and when convenened on 12 February, allowed him to assume the presidency.

[3] However, Araujo, a landowner with progressive ideals, had the misfortune of taking office in the midst of massive labor and student strikes.

Martial law was declared, and soon the military, upset about not having received its pay and supported by the oligarchy, which distrusted Araujo, easily overthrew his government after nine months.