1947 Danish Folketing election

Folketing elections were held in Denmark on 28 October 1947,[1] except in the Faroe Islands where they were held on 18 February 1948. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 57 of the 150 seats. Voter turnout was 86% in Denmark proper and 60% in the Faroes.[2]

1947 Danish Folketing election
Danish Realm
← 1945 28 October 1947 1950 →

All 150 seats in the Folketing
76 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
Social Democrats Hans Hedtoft 40.02 57 +9
Venstre Knud Kristensen 27.58 49 +11
Conservatives Ole Bjørn Kraft 12.44 17 −9
Social Liberals Jørgen Jørgensen 6.92 10 −1
Communists Aksel Larsen 6.77 9 −9
Justice Oluf Pedersen 4.54 6 +3
Elected in the Faroe Islands
People's Thorstein Petersen 42.68 1 0
Union Andrass Samuelsen 28.43 1 +1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister-elect
Knud Kristensen
Venstre
Hans Hedtoft
Social Democrats

Electoral system changes

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Following legislation in December 1947 the representation of the Faroe Islands constituency was increased from one seat to two.[3] The two seats were elected using proportional representation with the D'Hondt method.[3]

Results

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Denmark proper
Social Democrats834,08940.0257+9
Venstre529,06625.3946+8
Conservative People's Party259,32412.4417–9
Danish Social Liberal Party144,2066.9210–1
Communist Party of Denmark141,0946.779–9
Justice Party of Denmark94,5704.546+3
Capital Venstre[a]45,8292.203New
Danish Unity24,7241.190–4
Schleswig Party7,4640.360New
Independents3,7750.1800
Total2,084,141100.001480
Valid votes2,084,14199.77
Invalid/blank votes4,8740.23
Total votes2,089,015100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,435,30685.78
Faroe Islands
People's Party4,13542.6810
Union Party2,75428.431+1
Social Democratic Party1,99020.5400
Self-Government8098.3500
Total9,688100.002+1
Valid votes9,68899.65
Invalid/blank votes340.35
Total votes9,722100.00
Registered voters/turnout16,16960.13
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
  1. ^ The Copenhagen branch of Venstre ran as a separate party in order to exploit the electoral law and was able to win compensatory seats. Following the election the other parties grouped together to push for changes to the system which were passed in 1948.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p524 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p540
  3. ^ a b Nohlen & Stöver, p541
  4. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p506