Why did the Liberal Party return to power in Colombia in 1930?

The Liberal Party returned to power in Colombia in 1930 primarily due to the economic and political instability that weakened the incumbent Conservative government.

The worldwide Great Depression caused a precipitous drop in the value of Colombia's primary exports—coffee, petroleum, and bananas—which triggered an economic collapse that undermined the Conservative administration.12

Beyond these economic pressures, the Liberal victory was driven by two key political factors:
* Public Discontent: There was significant popular opposition to the Conservative government’s use of the military against labor unions within the banana industry.34
* Internal Division: The Conservative Party suffered from a critical lack of internal unity, which further facilitated the election of the Liberal candidate, Enrique Olaya Herrera.34