A constitutional referendum was held in France on 5 May 1946.[1] Voters were asked whether they approved of a new draft Constitution proposed by the Constituent Assembly elected in 1945 (the "Constitutional Bill of 19 April 1946").[2]
May 1946 French constitutional referendum
5 May 1946
Results
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
9,454,034
47.18%
No
10,584,359
52.82%
Valid votes
20,038,393
97.43%
Invalid or blank votes
528,985
2.57%
Total votes
20,567,378
100.00%
Registered voters/turnout
25,829,425
79.63%
The draft Constitution, approved by the Constituent Assembly on 19 April 1946, was supported by the Communists and the Socialists. It concentrated power in a unicameral Assembly and abolished the Senate of France.
Moderates, Radicals, and the Popular Republican Movement (MRP) campaigned against the referendum. The "No" coalition warned the voters against the danger of a "dictatorship" of an Assembly dominated by the Marxists, which could question the existence of private property. In the "Yes" coalition, the SFIO refused the Communist proposition of a common campaign.
The draft Constitution was rejected by 52.8% of voters, with a turnout of 79.6%.[2] It was the first referendum in France in which the proposal put to voters was rejected.
As a result of the vote, the Constituent Assembly elected in 1945 was dissolved and fresh elections for a new Constituent Assembly were held on 2 June 1946. This second Constituent Assembly adopted a different draft Constitution on 29 September 1946. This second draft was submitted to the French people in the referendum of 13 October 1946 and was approved, resulting in the enactment of the Constitution of the French Fourth Republic, signed into law by the President of the Provisional Government on 27 October 1946.
1946, french, constitutional, referendum, constitutional, referendum, held, france, 1946, voters, were, asked, whether, they, approved, draft, constitution, proposed, constituent, assembly, elected, 1945, constitutional, bill, april, 1946, 1946resultschoice, v. A constitutional referendum was held in France on 5 May 1946 1 Voters were asked whether they approved of a new draft Constitution proposed by the Constituent Assembly elected in 1945 the Constitutional Bill of 19 April 1946 2 May 1946 French constitutional referendum5 May 1946ResultsChoice Votes Yes 9 454 034 47 18 No 10 584 359 52 82 Valid votes 20 038 393 97 43 Invalid or blank votes 528 985 2 57 Total votes 20 567 378 100 00 Registered voters turnout 25 829 425 79 63 The draft Constitution approved by the Constituent Assembly on 19 April 1946 was supported by the Communists and the Socialists It concentrated power in a unicameral Assembly and abolished the Senate of France Moderates Radicals and the Popular Republican Movement MRP campaigned against the referendum The No coalition warned the voters against the danger of a dictatorship of an Assembly dominated by the Marxists which could question the existence of private property In the Yes coalition the SFIO refused the Communist proposition of a common campaign The draft Constitution was rejected by 52 8 of voters with a turnout of 79 6 2 It was the first referendum in France in which the proposal put to voters was rejected As a result of the vote the Constituent Assembly elected in 1945 was dissolved and fresh elections for a new Constituent Assembly were held on 2 June 1946 This second Constituent Assembly adopted a different draft Constitution on 29 September 1946 This second draft was submitted to the French people in the referendum of 13 October 1946 and was approved resulting in the enactment of the Constitution of the French Fourth Republic signed into law by the President of the Provisional Government on 27 October 1946 Results editChoice Metropolitan France Total Votes Votes For 9 109 771 47 0 9 454 034 47 2 Against 10 272 586 53 0 10 584 359 52 8 Invalid blank votes 513 054 528 985 Total 19 895 411 100 20 567 378 100 Source Nohlen amp StoverSee also editMay 1946 French constitutional referendum in Algeria May 1946 French constitutional referendum in Cameroon May 1946 French constitutional referendum in Chad Ubangi Shari May 1946 French constitutional referendum in Dahomey and Togo May 1946 French constitutional referendum in French Somaliland May 1946 French constitutional referendum in French Sudan Niger May 1946 French constitutional referendum in Gabon Moyen Congo May 1946 French constitutional referendum in Guinea May 1946 French constitutional referendum in Ivory Coast May 1946 French constitutional referendum in Mauritania Senegal May 1946 French constitutional referendum in TunisiaReferences edit Dieter Nohlen amp Philip Stover 2010 Elections in Europe A data handbook p674 ISBN 978 3 8329 5609 7 a b Nohlen amp Stover p684 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title May 1946 French constitutional referendum amp oldid 1157415184, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
