Greek legislative election, 1951

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Parliamentary elections were held in Greece on 9 September 1951.[1] They resulted in an ambivalent outcome, consisting a narrow and pyrrhic, as proven later, victory for the ruling center-liberal parties of Sophoklis Venizelos and Nikolaos Plastiras.

Background

After the Greek elections of 1950, when the divided centrist parties had a clear majority in the Parliament political instability was the main characteristic of the political life in Greece. The subsequent centre-liberal governments of Sophoklis Venizelos, Nikolaos Plastiras and Georgios Papandreou did not manage to ensure and enforce stability. As a result, Nikolaos Plastiras supported a People's Party government, under the terms that the latter would soon conduct elections.

Outcome

First party in the elections of 1951 was the just-founded Greek Rally of Alexandros Papagos, which swept the traditionally dominant right-wing People's Party. Nevertheless, the two major centrist-liberal parties, the Liberal Party and the National Progressive Center Union, elected more deputies than the conservatives.

The left-wing EDA, a party believed to have been affiliated with the outlaw during 1950-1974 Communist Party of Greece, made its first appearance in these elections.

Results

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Greek Rally624,31636.5114New
National Progressive Center Union401,37923.574+29
Liberal Party325,39019.057+1
United Democratic Left180,64010.610New
People's Party113,8766.72–60
Georgios Papandreou Party35,8102.10–35
Agricultural and Labour Party21,0091.21New
Socialist Party of Greece3,9120.20New
List of Independents1,5540.100
Communist Archio-Marxist Party of Greece1,1480.10New
Independents9650.100
Invalid/blank votes8,108
Total1,717,107100258+8
Registered voters/turnout2,224,24677.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Popular vote
ES
 
36.53%
EPEK
 
23.49%
KF
 
19.04%
EDA
 
10.57%
LK
 
6.66%
KGP
 
2.10%
AEK
 
1.23%
Others
 
0.38%
Parliament seats
ES
 
44.19%
EPEK
 
28.68%
KF
 
22.09%
EDA
 
3.88%
LK
 
0.78%
AEK
 
0.39%

Aftermath

Since no party or alliance had the absolute majority in the Parliament and Alexandros Papagos refused to participate in a government of national unity, the Liberal Party and the National Progressive Center Union formed a minority government under the leadership of Nikolaos Plastiras, which lasted for about a year, since 1952, when Nikolaos Plastiras submitted his resignation and new legislative elections were proclaimed by the King Paul I.

References

  1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p830 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
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