Yugoslavian parliamentary election, 1945

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Parliamentary elections were held in Yugoslavia on 11 November 1945.[1] Due to an opposition boycott, the governing National Front was the only party to contest the elections.[2]

Electoral system

The elections were held under a system approved by the Yugoslav Provisional Parliament.[3] Prime Minister Josip Broz Tito claimed it was to be the "most democratic Yugoslavia has ever had", and promised that the opposition would be allowed to contest the elections.[1] All men and women over 18 were granted the right to vote,[1] although "traitors" were denied the right to vote.[1] The government claimed this covered around 3% of voters, although the opposition put the figure much higher.[1] Over seven million people were ultimately registered.

The electoral law provided for a bicameral Parliament with a 354-seat National Assembly and a 175-seat Assembly of Nations.[1] The National Assembly had one seat for every 40,000 voters.[1] Voting was conducted using rubber balls, which voters deposited in a ballot box marked with the label of the party they intended to vote for. Voters had to place their hands in both ballot boxes to maintain the secrecy of which party they had voted for.[2]

Despite the opposition boycott, ballot boxes for the opposition were placed in polling stations alongside those for the National Front following an amendment to the electoral law.[2]

Campaign

The National Front consisted of the major pre-war parties in the country, and ran under the slogan "Confirm our Victory".[2]

Despite claiming significant support in Croatia and Serbia, the pro-monarchy opposition refused to contest the elections, claiming to have faced intimidation.[2] An opposition newspaper, Demokratija, was closed down a week before the elections, with the government claiming it was attempting to damage army morale and encourage foreign intervention.[4]

Results

National Assembly

Party Votes % Seats
National Front 90.48354
Opposition 9.520
Total 100354
Registered voters/turnout 88.57–
Source: Banac[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Yugoslavia At The Polls", The Times, 12 November 1945
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Elections In Yugoslavia", The Times, 9 November 1945
  3. ↑ "Marshal Tito On The Election", The Times, 13 September 1945
  4. ↑ "Yugoslavia In Transition", The Times, 22 November 1945
  5. ↑ Ivo Banac (1988) With Stalin Against Tito: Cominformist Splits in Yugoslav Communism, Cornell University Press, p18
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