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All 179 seats in the Folketing 90 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Turnout | 80.58% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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General elections were held in the Kingdom of Denmark on 22 September 1953, [1] the first under the new constitution. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 74 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 81% in Denmark proper and 69% in Greenland. [2] The electoral threshold was 60,000 votes.
This election was held as a result of the passing of the 1953 Danish constitution. The new election law of 1953 increased the size of the Folketing from 151 to 179 members. The number of district seats was increased from 105 to 135, while the number of levelling seats was decreased to 40. This was the first election in which Greenland elected members. [3]
Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denmark proper | |||||
Social Democrats | 894,913 | 41.31 | 74 | +13 | |
Venstre | 499,656 | 23.06 | 42 | +9 | |
Conservative People's Party | 364,960 | 16.85 | 30 | +4 | |
Danish Social Liberal Party | 169,295 | 7.81 | 14 | +1 | |
Communist Party of Denmark | 93,824 | 4.33 | 8 | +1 | |
Justice Party of Denmark | 75,449 | 3.48 | 6 | –3 | |
Independent Party | 58,573 | 2.70 | 0 | New | |
Schleswig Party/Independent | 9,721 | 0.45 | 1 | +1 | |
Total | 2,166,391 | 100.00 | 175 | +26 | |
Valid votes | 2,166,391 | 99.74 | |||
Invalid/blank votes | 5,645 | 0.26 | |||
Total votes | 2,172,036 | 100.00 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 2,695,554 | 80.58 | |||
Faroe Islands | |||||
Social Democratic Party | 1 | 0 | |||
Union Party | 1 | 0 | |||
Total | 2 | 0 | |||
Greenland | |||||
Independents | 6,183 | 100.00 | 2 | New | |
Total | 6,183 | 100.00 | 2 | New | |
Valid votes | 6,183 | 96.38 | |||
Invalid/blank votes | 232 | 3.62 | |||
Total votes | 6,415 | 100.00 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 9,356 | 68.57 | |||
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
The Folketing, also known as the Parliament of Denmark or the Danish Parliament in English, is the unicameral national legislature (parliament) of the Kingdom of Denmark—Denmark proper together with the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Established in 1849, until 1953 the Folketing was the lower house of a bicameral parliament, called the Rigsdag; the upper house was the Landsting. It meets in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen.
General elections were held in Denmark on 20 November 2001. For the first time since the 1924 elections, the Social Democrats did not win the most seats. Anders Fogh Rasmussen of the centre-right Venstre became Prime Minister in coalition with the Conservative People's Party, as the head of the first Rasmussen government, with the support from Danish People's Party.
General elections were held in Denmark on 21 September 1994. The coalition of the Social Democratic Party, the Danish Social Liberal Party and the Centre Democrats led by Poul Nyrup Rasmussen remained in power despite the Christian People's Party, which had been part of the government, failing to cross the 2% threshold and losing all four seats. Voter turnout was 84.3% in Denmark proper, 62.3% in the Faroe Islands and 56.7% in Greenland.
There are three types of elections in Denmark: elections to the national parliament, local elections, and elections to the European Parliament. Referendums may also be called to consult the Danish citizenry directly on an issue of national concern.
General elections were held in Denmark on 8 September 1987. Although the Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing with 54 of the 179 seats, the Conservative People's Party-led coalition government was able to continue. Voter turnout was 87% in Denmark proper, 69% in the Faroe Islands and 45% in Greenland.
General elections were held in Denmark on 8 February 2005. Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's Venstre remained the largest party in the Folketing and his governing coalition with the Conservative People's Party remained intact, with the Danish People's Party providing the parliamentary support needed for the minority government. The Danish Social Liberal Party made the biggest gains of any party, although it remained outside the governing group of parties. The elections marked the second time in a row that the Social Democrats were not the largest party in parliament, a change from most of the 20th century. The Social Democrats lost five seats and leader Mogens Lykketoft resigned immediately after the elections. Voter turnout was 85% in Denmark proper, 73% in the Faroe Islands and 59% in Greenland.
General elections were held in Denmark on 10 January 1984, after the opposition voted against the government's state budget bill. Although the Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing with 56 of the 179 seats, the Conservative People's Party achieved its best-ever result, gaining 16 seats. The coalition partners Venstre and the Christian People's Party also increased their representation, although the fourth government party, the Centre Democrats, lost seven of their 15 seats. Overall the coalition won three more seats, and Poul Schlüter continued as Prime Minister.
General elections were held in Denmark on 8 December 1981. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 59 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 83% in Denmark proper, 55% in the Faroe Islands and 61% in Greenland.
General elections were held in Denmark on 23 October 1979. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 68 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 86% in Denmark proper, 65% in the Faroe Islands and 50% in Greenland.
General elections were held in Denmark on 15 February 1977. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 65 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 89% in Denmark proper, 63% in the Faroe Islands and 70% in Greenland.
General elections were held in Denmark on 21 September 1971 and in the Faroe Islands on 5 October. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 70 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 87% in Denmark proper, 57% in the Faroe Islands and 52% in Greenland. They were the first elections using the new counties as constituencies.
General elections were held in Denmark on 23 January 1968. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 62 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 89% in Denmark proper, 57% in the Faroe Islands and 56% in Greenland. They were the last elections in which the old counties were used as constituencies.
General elections were held in Denmark on 22 November 1966, although in Greenland the elections were held on 6 December 1966. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 69 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 89% in Denmark proper, 49% in the Faroe Islands and 59% in Greenland.
General elections were held in Denmark on 22 September 1964. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 76 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 86% in Denmark proper, 50% in the Faroe Islands and 49% in Greenland. They were the first elections with the new electoral threshold of 2%.
General elections were held in Denmark on 14 May 1957. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 70 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 84% in Denmark proper, 38% in the Faroe Islands and 62% in Greenland. The electoral threshold was 60,000 votes.
General elections were held in Denmark on 15 November 1960. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 76 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 86% in Denmark proper, 57% in the Faroe Islands and 66% in Greenland. They were the last elections in which the electoral threshold for the Danish seats was 60,000 votes. The following year the electoral law was amended to make it 2% of the vote.
Folketing elections were held in Denmark on 21 September 1920, except in the Faroe Islands, where they were held on 30 October. They were the first in which South Jutland County participated since the Schleswig Plebiscites and the return to Danish rule, and the total number of seats in the Folketing was increased from 140 to 149. The result was a victory for Venstre, which won 51 of the 149 seats. Voter turnout was 77.0% in Denmark proper and 56.2% in the Faroe Islands.
Folketing elections were held in Denmark on 5 September 1950, except in the Faroe Islands where they were held on 14 October. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 59 of the 151 seats. Voter turnout was 82% in Denmark proper but just 22% in the Faroes.
A constitutional and electoral age referendum was held in Denmark on 28 May 1953. Both proposals were approved by voters, leading to both a new constitution taking effect on 5 June, and the electoral age being lowered from 25 to 23 years, also starting on 5 June. Voter turnout was 59.1% for the constitution question and 57.1% for the voting age question.
Members of the Folketing are members of the Danish parliament, known as the Folketing. The title is frequently shortened to the initialism MF. The term of office is up to 4 years, but usually shorter as the prime minister can call a snap election at any time before the full term is up.