The Radical Liberal Party was a political party

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

 in Paraguay

Paraguay

Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...

. It was the largest legal opposition group during the Stroessner

Alfredo Stroessner

Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, whose name is also spelled Strössner or Strößner , was a Paraguayan military officer and dictator from 1954 to 1989...

 regime, but disappeared soon after he was overthrown.

History

The party was established in 1963 after a split in the Liberal Party

Liberal Party (Paraguay)

The Liberal Party , commonly known as the Blue Party was a political party in Paraguay, ruling the country for most of the period between 1904 and 1940.-References:...

. After the Renovation Group faction of the Liberal Party returned to Paraguay to become the "official" opposition to the Stroessner

Alfredo Stroessner

Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, whose name is also spelled Strössner or Strößner , was a Paraguayan military officer and dictator from 1954 to 1989...

 regime, the remainder of the party was renamed the Radical Liberal Party. In 1967 members of the PLR also returned to Paraguay to participate in the Constitutional Assembly elections

Paraguayan Constitutional Assembly election, 1967

Constitutional Assembly elections were held in Paraguay on 7 May 1967. The Colorado Party won 80 of the 120 seats. Voter turnout was 68.9%. Following the election, the country's fifth constitution was promulgated in August. The new constitution allowed President Alfonso Stroessner to run for two...

 that year. They won 29 of the 120 seats, overtaking the Liberal Party to become the largest of the opposition groups.

In the 1968 general elections

Paraguayan general election, 1968

General elections were held in Paraguay on 11 February 1968. Alfredo Stroessner of the Colorado Party won the presidential elections, whilst the Colorado Party won 20 of the 30 seats in the Senate and 40 of the 60 seats in the Chamber of Deputues. Voter turnout was 73.1%.-President:-Senate:-Chamber...

 the party won nine of the 30 Senate seats and 16 of the 60 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The 1973 elections

Paraguayan general election, 1973

General elections were held in Paraguay on 11 February 1973. Alfredo Stroessner of the Colorado Party won the presidential elections, whilst the Colorado Party won 20 of the 30 seats in the Senate and 40 of the 60 seats in the Chamber of Deputues. Voter turnout was 77.4%.-President:-Senate:-Chamber...

 saw the party lose one Senate seat, but retain all 16 in the Chamber. The party did not contest the 1977 Constitutional Assembly elections

Paraguayan Constitutional Assembly election, 1977

Constitutional Assembly elections were held in Paraguay on 6 February 1977. The Colorado Party was the only party to contest the elections, and won all seats. Voter turnout was 82.8%. Following the election, the constitution was amended to scrap term limits, allowing President Alfredo Stroessner to...

, and after the constitution was amended to allow Stroessner to remain in power indefinitely, a majority of members left the party to establish the Authentic Radical Liberal Party

Authentic Radical Liberal Party

The Authentic Radical Liberal Party is a liberal party in Paraguay.The party is an observer member of Liberal International. At the last legislative elections, 27 April 2003, the party won 25.7 % of the popular vote and 21 out of 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay and 24.3 %, leading...

.

The party retained its 16 Chamber seats in the 1978 elections

Paraguayan general election, 1978

General elections were held in Paraguay on 12 February 1978. Alfredo Stroessner of the Colorado Party won the presidential elections, whilst the Colorado Party won 20 of the 30 seats in the Senate and 40 of the 60 seats in the Chamber of Deputues. Voter turnout was 86.0%.-President:-Senate:-Chamber...

, but was reduced to 13 in 1983

Paraguayan general election, 1983

General elections were held in Paraguay on 6 February 1983. Alfredo Stroessner of the Colorado Party won the presidential elections, whilst the Colorado Party won 20 of the 30 seats in the Senate and 40 of the 60 seats in the Chamber of Deputues. Voter turnout was 92.6%.-President:-Senate:-Chamber...

. After winning 13 seats again in the 1988 elections

Paraguayan general election, 1988

General elections were held in Paraguay on 14 February 1988. Alfredo Stroessner of the Colorado Party won the presidential elections, whilst the Colorado Party won 20 of the 30 seats in the Senate and 40 of the 60 seats in the Chamber of Deputues...

, the party saw a huge loss of support after Stroessner was overthrown. In the 1989 elections

Paraguayan general election, 1989

Early general elections were held in Paraguay on 1 May 1989, following the overthrow of President Alfredo Stroessner on 3 February. For the first time in several years, democratic opposition parties were allowed to contest the elections. The presidential elections were won by Andrés Rodríguez ...

the party's vote share fell from 7.2% to 1.3% and won just a single seat. It did not contest any further elections.