Czechoslovak parliamentary election, 1946

Czechoslovak parliamentary election, 1946
Czechoslovakia
May 26, 1946 (1946-05-26)
300
Turnout 93.9%
  First party Second party
 
Party KSČ CSNS
Seats after 93 55
Seat change +63 +27
Popular vote 2,205,697 1,298,980
Percentage 31.2 18.4

Parliamentary elections were held in Czechoslovakia on 26 May 1946.[1] The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia emerged as the largest party, winning 114 of the 300 seats (93 for the main party and 21 for its Slovak branch) with 38% of the vote (31 percent for the main party and 6.9 percent for the Slovak branch). This was the best performance for a Czechoslovak party up to that time; previously no Czechoslovak party had ever won more than 25 percent of the vote. Voter turnout was 93.9%.[2]

Background

After World War II a 300-member interim National Assembly was formed and met for the first time on 28 October 1945.[3] The Assembly created a new electoral system with the country divided into 28 multi-member constituencies. 150 members were elected from Bohemia, 81 from Moravia and Silesia and 69 from Slovakia. The voting age was lowered to 18, but only Czechs, Slovaks and other Slavs could register to vote.[3]

Results

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia2,205,69731.293+63
Czechoslovak National Socialist Party1,298,98018.455+27
Czechoslovak People's Party1,111,00915.746+24
Democratic Party999,62214.143New
Czechoslovak Social Democracy855,53812.137New
Communist Party of Slovakia489,5966.921New
Freedom Party60,1950.93New
Labour Party50,0790.72New
Invalid/blank votes59,427–––
Total7,130,1431003000
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Aftermath

Following the elections the Communist Party formed a coalition government. However, they gradually took control of the entire government. After the non-Communist members resigned from the Cabinet on 25 February 1948, the Communists were able to take full control of the country.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p471 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ↑ Nohlen & Stöver, p472
  3. 1 2 Nohlen & Stöver, p464
  4. ↑ Nohlen & Stöver, p457
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