1978 Colombian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Colombia on 26 February 1978 to elect the Senate and Chamber of Representatives. The result was a victory for the Liberal Party, which won 111 of the 199 Chamber seats and 62 of the 112 Senate seats.

Results

Senate

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Colombian Liberal Party	2,297,534	55.23	62	–4
	Colombian Conservative Party	1,650,429	39.68	49	+12
	National Opposition Union	126,553	3.04	1	–1
	People's Unity Front	49,058	1.18	0	New
	Others	36,272	0.87	0	–
Total		4,159,846	100.00	112	0
Valid votes		4,159,846	99.76
Invalid/blank votes		9,988	0.24
Total votes		4,169,834	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		12,519,719	33.31
Source: Nohlen

Chamber of Representatives

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Colombian Liberal Party	2,302,230	55.20	111	–2
	Colombian Conservative Party	1,645,496	39.45	83	+17
	National Opposition Union	128,516	3.08	4	–1
	People's Unity Front	50,008	1.20	1	New
	Others	44,825	1.07	0	–
Total		4,171,075	100.00	199	0
Valid votes		4,171,075	99.78
Invalid/blank votes		9,046	0.22
Total votes		4,180,121	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		12,519,719	33.39
Source: Nohlen

Within Liberal ranks, lists supporting presidential pre-candidate Julio César Turbay Ayala soundly defeated lists supporting his rival for the party's nomination, former President Carlos Lleras Restrepo. Unofficial results showed about 1,441,000 votes for pro-Turbay Liberal lists and 673,000 votes for pro-Lleras Liberals. This victory confirmed Turbay's candidacy as the official Liberal candidate for the June presidential election, in which he defeated Conservative candidate Belisario Betancur.