In the 1944 elections, the first democratic elections that had been held in the country, the PRN nominated Juan José Arévalo as its candidate. In November 1945 it merged with the FPL to form the Revolutionary Action Party (PAR), but split from it eighteen months later. This split was partially the result of ideological differences, and partially the result of manipulations by Arévalo, who preferred to deal with a fractured opposition. After some hesitation the PRN joined the Party of the Guatemalan Revolution in June 1952, but withdrew a month later. PRN was the smallest party in the coalition governments of Jacobo Árbenz (1951-1954). It was disbanded after the coup d'état of 1954.