1955 Saar Statute referendum

A referendum on the Saar statute was held in the Saar Protectorate on 23 October 1955.[1] The statute would have made the territory an independent polity under the auspices of a European Commissioner, to be appointed by the Council of Ministers of the Western European Union, while remaining in the economic union with France.

1955 Saar Statute referendum
23 October 1955 (1955-10-23)
Do you approve the European Statute for the Saarland agreed between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of the French Republic on 23 October 1954 with the consent of the Government of the Saarland?
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 201,973 32.29%
No 423,434 67.71%
Valid votes 625,407 97.55%
Invalid or blank votes 15,725 2.45%
Total votes 641,132 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 662,839 96.73%

Its rejection by voters was taken as an indication that they would rather reunite with West Germany.[2] On 27 October 1956 France and West Germany concluded the Saar Treaty establishing that Saarland should be allowed to join West Germany as provided by article 23 of its constitution (Grundgesetz). Saarland subsequently became a state of Germany with effect from 1 January 1957.[2]

Results

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ChoiceVotes%
For201,97332.29
Against423,43467.71
Total625,407100.00
Valid votes625,40797.55
Invalid/blank votes15,7252.45
Total votes641,132100.00
Registered voters/turnout662,83996.73
Source: CVCE

By constituency

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Constituency For Against Invalid/
blank
Total Registered
voters
Turnout
Votes % Votes %
Saarbrücken-town 30,858 39.10 48,063 60.90 1,531 80,452 83,369 96.50
Saarbrücken-region 48,523 30.68 109,659 69.32 3,339 161,521 166,349 97.10
Saarlouis 36,074 34.63 68,094 65.37 3,590 107,758 111,260 96.85
Merzig-Wadern 16,980 32.67 34,991 67.33 1,691 53,662 55,661 96.41
Ottweiler 30,620 30.66 69,256 69.34 2,379 102,255 105,927 96.53
Sankt Wendel 12,200 24.56 37,484 75.44 1,266 50,950 52,824 96.45
Sankt Ingbert 15,866 37.39 26,573 62.61 1,104 43,543 45,287 96.15
Homburg 10,852 27.02 29,314 72.98 826 40,992 42,125 97.31
Total 201,973 32.29 423,434 67.71 15,725 641,132 662,839 96.73
Source: CVCE

See also

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References

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