April 1920 Danish Folketing election

April 1920 Danish Folketing election

26 April 1920

All 140 seats in the Folketing 71 seats needed for a majority

Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– Elected in Denmark Venstre Niels Neergaard 34.23 48 +4 Social Democrats Thorvald Stauning 29.32 42 +3 Conservatives Emil Piper 19.67 28 +6 Social Liberals Carl Theodor Zahle 11.93 17 −15 Industry 2.88 4 +3 Elected in the Faroe Islands Union Oliver Effersøe 64.48 1 0 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Michael Pedersen Friis Independent Niels Neergaard Venstre

Folketing elections were held in Denmark on 26 April 1920,^[1] except in the Faroe Islands, where they were held on 20 May. The election campaign was the most aggressive and bitter in Denmark in the 20th century.^[2] Voter turnout was 80.6% in Denmark proper and 58.8% in the Faroe Islands.^[3]

Background

In what is referred to as Easter Crisis of 1920, on 29 March King Christian X dismissed the government,^[4] the Cabinet of Zahle II consisting of members of the Danish Social Liberal Party, replacing it with a caretaker cabinet led by Otto Liebe on 30 March, as he was of the opinion that Central Schleswig should be returned to Denmark regardless of the outcome of the Schleswig Plebiscites. This led to massive protests and was referred to as a coup d'état by the Danish Social Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party.^[5] On 5 April 1920 a compromise was reached, the government was replaced with another caretaker cabinet headed by Michael Pedersen Friis and a new election was to be held as soon as possible.^[6]

Electoral system

Prior to the elections, a new electoral law was enacted, with all seats now elected by party-list proportional representation in multi-member constituencies, with levelling seats used to make seat shares more proportional with national vote shares.^[7] The districts elected between two and 15 members each.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Denmark
	Venstre	350,563	34.23	48	+4
	Social Democratic Party	300,345	29.32	42	+3
	Conservative People's Party	201,499	19.67	28	+6
	Danish Social Liberal Party	122,160	11.93	17	–15
	Industry Party	29,464	2.88	4	+3
	Centre	9,056	0.88	0	New
	Free Social Democrats	7,260	0.71	0	New
	Danish Left Socialist Party	3,859	0.38	0	0
Total		1,024,206	100.00	139	0
Valid votes		1,024,206	99.70
Invalid/blank votes		3,082	0.30
Total votes		1,027,288	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		1,274,377	80.61
Faroe Islands
	Union Party–Venstre	3,117	64.48	1	0
	Independents	1,717	35.52	0	–
Total		4,834	100.00	1	0
Valid votes		4,834	99.71
Invalid/blank votes		14	0.29
Total votes		4,848	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		8,250	58.76
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p524 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
2. Wendt. "Rigsdagen 1915-40". Den Danske Rigsdag 1849-1949 bind II - Rigsdagens histore 1866-1949. p. 392.
3. Nohlen & Stöver, p. 537
4. Rosenkrantz, Palle (1934). Den danske regering og rigsdag 1903-1934 (in Danish). Copenhagen: Arthur Jensens Forlag. p. 46.
5. Rosenkrantz. Den danske regering og rigsdag 1903-1934. p. 47.
6. Wendt, Frantz W. (1951). "Rigsdagen 1915-40". In Fabricius, K.; Frisch, H.; Hjelholt, H.; Mackeprang, M.; Møller, A. (eds.). Den Danske Rigsdag 1849-1949 bind II - Rigsdagens histore 1866-1949 (in Danish). Copenhagen: J. H. Schultz Forlag. p. 388.
7. The Parliamentary Electoral System in Denmark Archived 2022-01-21 at the Wayback Machine Folketing