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General elections were held in Bolivia on 1 June 1997. As no candidate for the presidency received over 50% of the vote, the National Congress was required to elect a President on 4 August. Hugo Banzer of Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN) was subsequently elected. Whilst the ADN emerged as the largest party in Congress, it failed to win a majority of seats, and formed a coalition government with the Revolutionary Left Movement, Conscience of Fatherland and the Civic Solidarity Union.
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Campaign
Economic and social issues dominated the campaign, with all major parties promising to continue the free market policies implemented by outgoing President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada. Whilst Revolutionary Nationalist Movement leader Juan Carlos Duran emphasised the free market reforms, ADN leader Hugo Banzer promised to improve the lives of the indigenous population.
Congressional ballot
Hugo Banzer was supported by his ADN–NFR–PDC alliance, as well as the Revolutionary Left Movement, Conscience of Fatherland and the Civic Solidarity Union. His only opponent, Juan Carlos Durán, was only supported by his own Revolutionary Nationalist Movement party. The United Left and the Free Bolivia Movement did not support either candidate.