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April 1920 Danish Folketing election

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April 1920 Danish Folketing election
← 1918 26 April 1920 July 1920 →
All 140 seats to the Folketing
71 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Niels Neergaard Thorvald Stauning Emil Piper
Party Venstre Social Democrats Conservatives
Last election 45 seats, 29.4% 39 seats, 28.7 22 seats, 18.3%
Seats won 48 42 28
Seat change Increase3 Increase3 Increase6
Popular vote 350,563 300,345 201,499
Percentage 34.2% 29.3% 19.7%
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Carl Theodor Zahle ?
Party Social Liberals Industry
Last election 32 seats, 20.7% 1 seat, 1.3%
Seats won 17 4
Seat change Decrease15 Increase3
Popular vote 122,160 29,464
Percentage 11.9% 2.9%
Prime Minister before election

Michael Pedersen Friis
Independent

Elected Prime Minister

Niels Neergaard
Venstre

Politics of Denmark
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Folketing elections were held in Denmark on 26 April 1920,[1] except in the Faroe Islands, where they were held on 20 May. The election campaign was the most aggressive and bitter in Denmark in the 20th century.[2] Voter turnout was 80.6% in Denmark proper and 58.8% in the Faroe Islands.[3]

Background

In what is referred to as Easter Crisis of 1920, on 29 March King Christian X dismissed the government,[4] the Cabinet of Zahle II consisting of members of the Danish Social Liberal Party, replacing it with a caretaker cabinet led by Otto Liebe on 30 March, as he was of the opinion that Central Schleswig should be returned to Denmark regardless of the outcome of the Schleswig Plebiscites. This led to massive protests and was referred to as a coup d'état by the Danish Social Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party.[5] On 5 April 1920 a compromise was reached, the government was replaced with another caretaker cabinet headed by Michael Pedersen Friis and a new election was to be held as soon as possible.[6]

Electoral system

Prior to the elections, a new electoral law was enacted, with all seats now elected by proportional representation from a mix of multi-member constituencies and a nationwide district.[7]

Results

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Denmark
Venstre 350,563 34.2 48 +3
Social Democratic Party 300,345 29.3 42 +3
Conservative People's Party 201,499 19.7 28 +6
Danish Social Liberal Party 122,160 11.9 17 –15
Industry Party 29,464 2.9 4 +3
Centre 9,056 0.9 0 New
Free Social Democrats 7,260 0.7 0 New
Danish Left Socialist Party 3,859 0.4 0 0
Invalid/blank votes 3,082 – – –
Total 1,027,288 100 139 –
Faroe Islands
Venstre-Union Party 3,117 64.5 1
Independent 1,717 35.5 0
Invalid/blank votes 14 – –
Total 4,848 100 1
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p524 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ Wendt. "Rigsdagen 1915-40". Den Danske Rigsdag 1849-1949 bind II - Rigsdagens histore 1866-1949. p. 392.
  3. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p. 537
  4. ^ Rosenkrantz, Palle (1934). Den danske regering og rigsdag 1903-1934 (in Danish). Copenhagen: Arthur Jensens Forlag. p. 46.
  5. ^ Rosenkrantz. Den danske regering og rigsdag 1903-1934. p. 47.
  6. ^ Wendt, Frantz W. (1951). "Rigsdagen 1915-40". In Fabricius, K.; Frisch, H.; Hjelholt, H.; Mackeprang, M.; Møller, A. (eds.). Den Danske Rigsdag 1849-1949 bind II - Rigsdagens histore 1866-1949 (in Danish). Copenhagen: J. H. Schultz Forlag. p. 388.
  7. ^ The Parliamentary Electoral System in Denmark Folketing
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