Snap election

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A snap election is an election called earlier than scheduled.

Contents 1 Canada 2 Germany 3 Japan 4 Philippines 5 Thailand

[edit] Canada

See also: List of snap elections in Canada

In the Westminster parliamentary system a snap election is an early election called when the Prime Minister (or Premier) dissolves the legislature mid-way in a government's mandate.

Generally it refers to an election called when no one expects it, usually to capitalize on a unique electoral opportunity or to decide a pressing issue. In Canada, the most notable case is the Canadian federal election, 1958 where Prime Minister John Diefenbaker called an election just nine months after the previous one and transformed his minority government into the largest majority in the history of Canada.

[edit] Germany

The early German federal election in 2005 became necessary after a motion of confidence in Chancellor Gerhard Schröder failed on July 1. Following the defeat of Schröder's Social Democratic Party (SPD) in a state election, Schröder asked his supporters to abstain in the Bundestag motion in order that it fail and thus trigger an early federal election.

[edit] Japan

In Japan, a snap election is called when a Prime Minister dissolved the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The act is based on Article 7 of the Constitution of Japan, which can be interpreted as saying that the Prime Minister has the power to dissolve the lower house after so advising the Emperor. One such occurrence was the general election of 11 September 2005, called by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi after the Diet rejected his plan to privatize Japan Post. Koizumi won a resounding victory, and the privatization bill was passed in the next session.

[edit] Philippines

In the Philippines, the term "snap election" usually means to the 1986 presidential election, where President Ferdinand Marcos called elections earlier than scheduled. Marcos won the election but was eventually deposed when it was alleged that he cheated in the elections.

In the current constitution, a snap election will be held for the positions of president and vice president on the condition that both positions are vacant, and outside the 90-day range of the next scheduled presidential election.

[edit] Thailand

In 2006, the general election called by Thailand's prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, can also be categorised as a snap election. Despite winning a majority of votes, he stepped down.