1953 Danish general election

1953 Danish general election

← April 1953 22 September 1953 1957 →
All 179 seats in the Folketing 90 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	80.6%
Party Leader % Seats +/– Social Democrats Hans Hedtoft 41.3% 74 +13 Venstre Erik Eriksen 23.1% 42 +9 Conservative 16.8% 30 +4 Social Liberals Jørgen Jørgensen 7.8% 14 +1 Communists Aksel Larsen 4.3% 8 +1 Justice 3.5% 6 -3 Schleswig 0.5% 1 +1 Elected in the Faroe Islands Social Democratic Peter Mohr Dam – 1 0 Union Johan Poulsen – 1 +1 Elected in Greenland Independent – 100% 2 New This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Prime Minister before Prime Minister-elect Erik Eriksen Venstre Hans Hedtoft Social Democrats

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 80.6% in Denmark proper and 68.6% in Greenland.^[2] The electoral threshold was 60,000 votes.

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[]

Denmark[]

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Social Democratic Party	894,913	41.3	74	+13
Venstre	499,656	23.1	42	+9
Conservative People's Party	364,960	16.8	30	+4
Danish Social Liberal Party	169,295	7.8	14	+1
Communist Party of Denmark	93,824	4.3	8	+1
Justice Party of Denmark	75,449	3.5	6	–3
Independent Party	58,573	2.7	0	New
Schleswig Party/Independent	9,721	0.5	1	+1
Invalid/blank votes	5,645	–	–	–
Total	2,172,036	100	175	+26
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Faroe Islands[]

Only two candidates ran in the two-seat Faroes constituency, one from the Union Party and one from the Social Democratic Party. Both were re-elected unopposed.^[2]

Greenland[]

References[]