April 1920 Danish Folketing election

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]

April 1920 Danish Folketing election
Danish Realm
26 April 1920
All 140 seats in the Folketing
71 seats needed for a majority
PartyLeader % 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
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Michael Pedersen Friis
Independent		 Niels Neergaard
Venstre
Politics of Denmark
Constitution
The Crown
The unity of the Realm
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
Related topics

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 proportional representation from a mix of multi-member constituencies and a nationwide district.[7]

Results
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Denmark
Venstre350,56334.2348+4
Social Democratic Party300,34529.3242+3
Conservative People's Party201,49919.6728+6
Danish Social Liberal Party122,16011.9317–15
Industry Party29,4642.884+3
Centre9,0560.880New
Free Social Democrats7,2600.710New
Danish Left Socialist Party3,8590.3800
Total1,024,206100.001390
Valid votes1,024,20699.70
Invalid/blank votes3,0820.30
Total votes1,027,288100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,274,37780.61
Faroe Islands
Union Party–Venstre3,11764.4810
Independents1,71735.520–
Total4,834100.0010
Valid votes4,83499.71
Invalid/blank votes140.29
Total votes4,848100.00
Registered voters/turnout8,25058.76
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
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