Dahomeyan parliamentary election, 1960

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Parliamentary elections were held in the Republic of Dahomey on 11 December 1960. The result was a victory for the Dahomeyan Unity Party (PDU), a merger of the Dahomeyan Democratic Rally and the Dahomey Nationalist Party, which won all 60 seats. Voter turnout was 71.0%. [1]

Republic of Dahomey former country

The Republic of Dahomey was established on December 11, 1958, as a self-governing colony within the French Community. Prior to attaining autonomy it had been French Dahomey, part of the French Union. On August 1, 1960, it attained full independence from France.

Dahomeyan Unity Party political party in Benin

The Dahomeyan Unity Party was a political party in the Republic of Dahomey.

Dahomeyan Democratic Rally political party in Benin

The Dahomeyan Democratic Rally was a political party in French Dahomey led by Hubert Maga.

The leader of the winning party would become president. As head of the PDU list, Hubert Maga was elected. [2]

Hubert Maga First president of Benin

Coutoucou Hubert Maga was a politician from Dahomey. He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what region in Dahomey one lived in. Born a peasant in 1916, Maga served as a schoolmaster from 1936 to 1945, during which time he gradually gained considerable influence among the uneducated. He was elected to Dahomey's territorial assembly in 1947 and founded the Northern Ethnical Group, later renamed the Dahomey Democratic Rally. In 1951, Maga was elected to the French National Assembly, where he served in various positions, including premier from 1959 to 1960. When Dahomey gained its independence from France on August 1, 1960, Maga was appointed to the presidency, and was officially elected to that post on December 11.

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Dahomeyan Unity Party 468,67968.760+10
Dahomeyan Democratic Union 213,572310–20
Invalid/blank votes6,982
Total689,23310060–10
Registered voters/turnout971,01271.0
Source: Nohlen et al.

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References

  1. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p90 ISBN   0-19-829645-2
  2. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p93 ISBN   0-19-829645-2