1968 Besmenian federal election

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1968 Besmenian federal election
Flag of Besmenia.png
← East 1964
West 1966
14 January 1968 1972 →

427 seats
214 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F014898-0006, Alfons Goppel.jpg Alfons Gorbach 1965.jpg Jürgen Rothmann.png
Candidate Johannes Schmidt Helmut Glaubrecht Jürgen Rothmann
Party SDU BVP FBBP
Leader since 6 February 1960 17 June 1962 28 November 1963
Percentage 30,1% 29,2% 16,9%
Swing Decrease 4,4pp Decrease 1,5pp Decrease 2,0pp

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F024060-0007, Udo Hein.jpg Herbert Dau.jpg Albert Osswald.jpg
Candidate Reinhard Heide Erich Saalfeld Hans Logemann
Party BRP DB BELP
Leader since 4 May 1957 1 July 1966 13 September 1965
Percentage 8,4% 6,8% 6,2%
Swing Decrease 3,6pp New party New party

Besmenia1968electionmap.png
Strongest party by state

The 1968 Besmenia federal election was held on January 14, 1968 in Besmenia.

It was the first election to the Federal Chamber after the Besmenian reunification in September 1967. It was also the first ever snap election in the history of the Federal Republic of Besmenia, after the Besmenian government under Prime Minister Johannes Schmidt decided to hold the elections originally held in September 1968 in January 1968 in order to democratically integrate West Besmenia into parliament as quickly as possible. This was possible after the Federal Chamber decided in 1960 to allow snap elections. Before that, the Basic Law did not allow snap elections. The statutory membership of the Federal Chamber was increased to 427 MPs.

The parties SDU, BVP, FBBP and BRP previously represented in the Federal Chamber all lost votes. The new parties DB and BELP managed to enter parliament by clearing the 5% hurdle. With the entry of DB and BELP, more than four parties were elected to the Federal Chamber for the first time since 1936. Only four parties were represented there between 1940 and 1968.

The 1968 Besmenian capital city referendum also took place on the same day.

Background

Electoral system

Contesting parties

Prime Minister candidate of the parties

SDU

BVP

FBBP

BRP

BELP

DB

Campaign

SDU election poster

This was the first election to the Federal Chamber conducted after Besmenian reunification which took place on 14 September 1967. Previously, the National Assambly, West Besmenia's parliament, had selected 205 of its members which were then co-opted as Members of the East Besmenian parliament and served until the end of the 12th Federal Chamber.

Results

BEKA 1968-1972.PNG
Party Votes % Seats
Social Democratic Union 30,7 132
Besmenian People's Party 29,2 128
Free Besmenian Citizen's Party 16,9 74
Besmenian Republican Party 8,4 37
Democratic Besmenia 6,8 29
Besmenian Libertarian Party 6,2 27
Other parties 2,4 0
Total 100 427
Invalid/blank votes
Registered voters/turnout 92,03
Popular vote
SDU
30.7%
BVP
29.2%
FBBP
16.9%
BRP
8.4%
DB
6.8%
BELP
6.2%
Other parties
2.4%

Government formation

The previous SDU-BVP coalition was continued after the 1968 election. After the right-wing populist politician Robert Gleitzmann was elected BVP chairman on 31 March, 1969, Schmidt announced the termination the SDU-BVP coalition. Even before that, Gleitzmann had criticized Schmidt's leadership and the economic policy under the SDU-BVP federal government. After talks between the two parties, the BVP decided to leave the government and went into opposition. The BVP members left the government on 10 April. In order not to hold snap elections, the SDU held talks with the FBBP and DB, with the result that the FBBP and DB agreed to support an SDU minority government. Schmidt's third cabinet was inaugurated on 6 May.

Aftermatch