1979 Besmenian presidential election

1979 Besmenian presidential election

25 February 1979

File:Werner Kaltmann.jpg Candidate Erwin Pohl Werner Kaltmann Jürgen Rothmann Party Independent BVP FBBP Home state Laitstadt Lemberland Summingia Percentage 72,8% 16,2% 10,5%

Pohl

The 1979 Besmenian presidential election took place on 25 February 1979. It was the first presidential election in Besmenia after the voting age was lowered from 20 to 18 in 1974. In addition to the President Erwin Pohl, the Federal Defense Minister Werner Kaltmann (BVP) and the party chairman of the FBBP, Jürgen Rothmann, stood for election.

For Pohl, who enjoyed great popularity among the Besmenian population, his re-election was assured. His 72.8% election result is the highest result to date for a winning candidate in the Besmenian presidential election.

Electoral system

The President of Besmenia is directly elected by the population once every six years. The election is held under a two-round system; if no candidate receives more than 50% of votes cast in the first round, then a second ballot occurs in which only those two candidates who received the greatest number of votes in the first round may stand.

Candidates

Erwin Pohl

President Erwin Pohl, who was elected President of Besmenia as an independent candidate in 1973, was entitled under the Besmenian Basic Law to run for a second term. Pohl officially announced on October 15, 1978 that he wanted to run for a second term.

Results

Candidate		Party	Result
			Votes	%
	Erwin Pohl	Independent	39,885,444	72.8%
	Werner Kaltmann	BVP	8,875,607	16,2%
	Jürgen Rothmann	FBBP	5,752,708	10,5%
Invalid/blank votes			273,938	0.5%
Total			54,787,699	100%
Registered voters/turnout			61,820,856	88,62%

Popular vote Erwin Pohl   72.8% Werner Kaltmann   16.2% Jürgen Rothmann   10.5%