1982 Salvadoran presidential election

1982 Salvadoran presidential election

29 April 1982
Turnout88.33%
 
Nominee Álvaro Magaña Hugo César Barrera
Party AD–PDCPCN ARENA
Electoral vote 36 17
Percentage 67.92% 32.08%

President before election

Carlos Humberto Romero
PCN

Elected President

Álvaro Magaña
AD–PDCPCN

Indirect presidential elections were held in El Salvador on 29 April 1982. The Legislative Assembly voted on three candidates nominated by the armed forces. Álvaro Alfredo Magaña Borja, leader of the Democratic Action, was elected by 36 votes to 17, ahead of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) candidate.

Roberto D'Aubuisson accused Jaime Abdul Gutiérrez Avendaño of imposing on the Assembly "his personal decision to put Álvaro Alfredo Magaña Borja in the presidency" in spite of a "categorical no" from the ARENA deputies. Magaña was sworn into office on 2 May.