Chamber:
	Senado de la República
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	8 March 1998
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats of the Senate on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	The 1998 congressional elections took place against the backdrop of a violent guerrilla offensive in the country, as Marxist rebels continued to oppose government security forces in the country’s nearly 30-year-old civil war. The campaign was marked by accusations of corruption and allegations of illicit payments to candidates by drug cartels. As usual, the ruling Liberal Party (PL) of President of the Republic Ernesto Samper Pizano was mainly challenged by the Social Conservative Party (PSC) headed by Mr. Misael Pastrana Borrero. Altogether more than 6500 candidates, representing 64 political parties, contested the 263 seats at stake. Polling day itself saw a number of deaths despite the heavy deployment of military and police troops; the guerrillas had urged voter abstention. Final results gave the PL a renewed clear majority in both Houses as the electorate, turning out in relatively low numbers, opted for a general status quo. On 21 June, Mr. Andres Pastrana - son of Mr. Misael Pastrana and running as an independent candidate backed by the PSC - won the presidential election in a runoff contest against Mr. Horacio Serpa (PL). The newly elected Congress was convened on 20 July and Mr. Pastrana took office on 7 August.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (8 March 1998): Elections results
Voters	9,000,000 (45%)

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	%
Liberal Party (PL)	55.9
Social Conservative Party (PSC)	24.5
Others	19.6

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Liberal Party (PL)	58
Social Conservative Party (PSC)	28
Others	16

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	89
Women:	13