Previous elections had usually seen the incumbents choosing their successors, allowing the oligarchy perpetual control of the country's politics. However, on this occasion Pío Romero Bosque failed to designate a successor, resulting in a wide variety of candidates.[1]
Whilst Arajuo obtained a plurality of the votes, he had failed to secure a majority.[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.[4]
^Grieb, Kenneth J (1971) "The United States and the rise of General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez" Journal of Latin American Studies 3, 2 p152
^Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook Vol. 1 Oxford University Press, p287
^Grieb, p153
^Bland, Gary "Assessing the transition to democracy" in Tulchin, Joseph S. with Gary Bland (1992) Is there a transition to democracy in El Salvador? Boulder: Westview Press, p 166
Bibliography
Alvarenga Venutolo, Patricia (1996) Cultura y etica de la violencia San José: EDUCA
Anderson, Thomas P. (1971) Matanza: El Salvador's communist revolt of 1932 Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press
Larde y Larín, Jorge (1958) Guía Histórica de El Salvador San Salvador: Ministerio de Culture
Political Handbook of the world 1931 New York, 1932.
Vidal, Manuel (1970) Nociones de historia de Centro América San Salvador: Ministerio de Educación. Ninth edition
El Salvador portal 
