1949 Israeli presidential election

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1949 Israeli presidential election
Flag of Israel.svg
16 February 1949 1951  
  Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - President Chaim Weizmann.jpg Joseph Klausner.jpg
Nominee Chaim Weizmann Joseph Klausner
Party General Zionists Independent
Electoral vote8315

Elected President

Chaim Weizmann

Indirect presidential elections were held in Israel on 16 February 1949 to elect the first president of the State of Israel. The president was elected by the 120 members of the Knesset and would replace the president of the Provisional State Council as head of state. [1]

Contents

Candidates

There were two candidates:

Results

The election was settled in the first round, with Weizmann gaining an absolute majority. 114 of the 120 members of the first Knesset voted. Weizmann was declared president on 17 February 1949.

CandidateVotes%
Chaim Weizmann 8384.69
Joseph Klausner 1515.31
Total98100.00
Valid votes9885.96
Invalid votes10.88
Blank votes1513.16
Total votes114100.00
Registered voters/turnout12095.00

References

  1. Shoham Wechsler, ‘He is living Israeli flag’: The Right and the Presidency in Israel under Chaim Weizmann, 1948–1952, Middle Eastern Studies 0, 2023-05-03, p.1–12. doi: 10.1080/00263206.2023.2186858 Archived 2013-07-11 at the Wayback Machine