1953 Danish general election

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1953 Danish general election
Flag of Denmark (state).svg
  April 1953 22 September 1953 1957  

All 179 seats in the Folketing
90 seats needed for a majority
Turnout80.58%
PartyLeader%Seats+/–
Social Democrats Hans Hedtoft 41.3174+13
Venstre Erik Eriksen 23.0642+9
Conservatives Ole Bjørn Kraft 16.8530+4
Social Liberals Jørgen Jørgensen 7.8114+1
Communists Aksel Larsen 4.338+1
Justice Viggo Stacke 3.486−3
Schleswig Party 0.451+1
Elected in the Faroe Islands
Social Democratic Peter Mohr Dam 10
Union Johan Poulsen 1+1
Elected in Greenland
Independents 1002New
Folketing1953sep.svg
Prime Minister beforePrime Minister-elect
Erik Eriksen
Venstre
Hans Hedtoft
Social Democrats
Ballot paper in Copenhagen district Ballot paper of 1953 (September) Danish parliament election.jpg
Ballot paper in Copenhagen district

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.

Contents

Electoral system changes

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]

Results

1953 september Danish Folketing.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Denmark proper
Social Democrats 894,91341.3174+13
Venstre 499,65623.0642+9
Conservative People's Party 364,96016.8530+4
Danish Social Liberal Party 169,2957.8114+1
Communist Party of Denmark 93,8244.338+1
Justice Party of Denmark 75,4493.486–3
Independent Party 58,5732.700New
Schleswig Party/Independent9,7210.451+1
Total2,166,391100.00175+26
Valid votes2,166,39199.74
Invalid/blank votes5,6450.26
Total votes2,172,036100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,695,55480.58
Faroe Islands
Social Democratic Party 10
Union Party 10
Total20
Greenland
Independents6,183100.002New
Total6,183100.002New
Valid votes6,18396.38
Invalid/blank votes2323.62
Total votes6,415100.00
Registered voters/turnout9,35668.57
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

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References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p524 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p541
  3. Cohn, Einar (November 1953). "Folketingsvalget den 22. september 1953". Danmarks Statistik.