1953 Danish general election

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.

1953 Danish general election
22 September 1953
Turnout80.6%
Party Leader % Seats ±
Social Democrats Hans Hedtoft 41.3% 74 +13
Venstre Erik Eriksen 23.1% 42 +9
Conservative Ole Bjørn Kraft 16.8% 30 +4
Social Liberals Jørgen Jørgensen 7.8% 14 +1
Communists Aksel Larsen 4.3% 8 +1
Justice Viggo Stacke 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

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 Party894,91341.374+13
Venstre499,65623.142+9
Conservative People's Party364,96016.830+4
Danish Social Liberal Party169,2957.814+1
Communist Party of Denmark93,8244.38+1
Justice Party of Denmark75,4493.56–3
Independent Party58,5732.70New
Schleswig Party/Independent9,7210.51+1
Invalid/blank votes5,645–––
Total2,172,036100175+26
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Popular vote
A
 
 41.31%
V
 
 23.06%
C
 
 16.85%
B
 
 7.81%
K
 
 4.33%
E
 
 3.48%
U
 
 2.70%
Others
 
 0.45%

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
Party Votes % Seats
Independents6,1831002
Invalid/blank votes232––
Total6,4151002
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References
  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p524 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p541
  3. Cohn, Einar (November 1953). "Folketingsvalget den 22. september 1953". Danmarks Statistik.
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