25 February
Election results; overall turnout was 87%.
The parties received the following share of the votes in the Chamber of Deputies; 158
The Democratic Union 30% (48 seats)
The United Workers Party 45% (71 seats)
The Conservative Party 19% (30 seats)
Marxist Party 4% (6 seats)
National Democratic Party 1% (2 seats)
General Democratic Union 1% (1 seat)
There is no overall winner. Here are the largest possible combinations as drawn up by Political News Weekly;
UWP- Democratic Union (119 seats)
Democratic Union-Conservative (78 seats)
Democratic Union-Conservative-NDP (80 seats)
UWP-Marxist-NDP-GDU (80 seats)
UWP-Marxist-NDP (79 seats)
UWP-Marxist 49% (77 seats)
The leader of the Democratic Union, Vice-President Enrique Pastelle, has ruled out a repeat of the People’s Government coalition with the United Workers Party, a clear sign that he is in talks with the Conservative Party about forming a coalition.
Analysts have quickly grasped that neither of the two biggest parties can form a majority government without the few key seats held by the National Democratic Party and the General Democratic Union. The main questions are; can the United Workers Party swallow their anti-Marxist rhetoric; can the Democratic Party successfully court its former defectors, the General Democratic Union and will the National Democratic Party’s coterie of powerful cabinet ministers be willing to do a deal with any side to potentially retain their positions?
The Instituto Aerotechico party today visited the Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd. factory at Coventry where they build piston and jet engines, with the team having strong interest in the ASX axial-flow design. In the afternoon they briefly discussed power-operated control systems with Boulton Paul Ltd. in Wolverhampton and examined their designs for night-fighters.
26 February
After just twenty-four hours of talks behind closed doors at the San Martin Theatre in Cordoba the leaders of the Conservative Party, Jose Marcos de Ballista, the Democratic Union, Enrique Pastelle, and the General Democratic Union, Alfredo Castagone, emerged to shake hands in front of the press announcing they had agreed a power sharing deal. Meanwhile, a mile or so away at the Trade Unions Congress building, the leader of the United Workers Party, Lorenzo Dominique shook hands with the leader of the Marxist Party Don Calbria. They spoke of forging a new government for all the people. At this moment, the failure of success of either of the blocs, conservative or socialist, depends on courting the National Democratic Party.
While the Instituto Aerotechico team left Ringway aboard a Lufthansa flight, Erhard Milch and couple of associates returned to Hucclecote along with Ministry of Supply officials for further talks.
27 February
The Democratic Union leader Enrique Pastelle in a radio interview this morning rubbished claims that the Socialist-Marxist pact was the only pro-worker government in being. He pointed out that his party would ensure good wages and social conditions and would pursue business policies to allow commerce to grow and provide more jobs. On street corners, enthused students and fellow Marxist supporters could be found handing out government manifestoes.
Not until just after noon did the leader of the, National Democratic Party, Almirante (ret.) Peron, make a statement. He had decided to go into government with the Conservative Party, the Democratic Union and the General Democratic Union. This gives them 81 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, a very slender majority of two.
All four leaders went to the Presidential Office to seek approval to form the government.
The Instituto Aerotechico team, temporarily led by Dr. Fernandez, began their German tour in earnest. They visited Fieseler Flugzeugbau AG today to examine the Fieseler Fi220 naval strike aircraft, which impressed with its agility and carrying ability.
28 February
A new coalition government is formed.
Prime Minister/ Vice President Enrique Pastelle (DU)
Finance Minister Carlos Santinez (DU)
Foreign Affairs Minister Alfredo Castagone (GDU)
Defence Minister Vice Almirante (ret). Juan Perez Benedicto Hood (NDP)
State Minister Jose Marcos de Ballista (Con)
Security Minister Almirante (ret.) Peron (NDP)
Transport Minister Miguel Suraez (Con)
Social Affairs Minister Eduardo Laurencena (DU)
Labour and Industry Minister Carlos Saavedra Lamas (NDP)
Education and Culture Minister Fernando Balbin (Con)
Members of the Instituto Aerotechico team, temporarily led by Dr. Fernandez, today had the honour of witnessing the first flight of the Focke Wulf Fw340 jet fighter. Another of the cutting-edge first generation jet fighters it was hard to tell much from the sedate and careful early flight tests, but the data promise an airframe able to match the latest French and British types.