1953 Iranian parliamentary dissolution referendum

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1953 Iranian parliamentary dissolution referendum

3–10 August 1953 (1953-08-03 – 1953-08-10)

Dissolution or Continuation of the 17th National Consultative Assembly
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 2,043,389 99.94%
No 1,207 0.06%
Valid votes 2,044,596 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 4 0.00%
Total votes 2,044,600 100.00%

A referendum on the

Parliament, the first referendum ever held in Iran
, was held in August 1953. The dissolution was approved by more than 99% of voters.

Following the referendum, there were talks about another referendum to abolish the Pahlavi dynasty and make Iran a republic, however the government was overthrown by a coup d'état shortly after.[1][2]

Timeline

  • 12 July: PM Mohammad Mosaddegh openly announced his intention to hold the referendum,[3] asking people to either choose between his government or the 17th Parliament.[4]
  • 14 July: The decision to hold the referendum was approved by the cabinet.[3]
  • 3 August: The referendum was held in Tehran.[4]
  • 10 August: The referendum was held in other cities.[4]
  • 13 August: The official results of the polls were declared by the interior ministry.[3]
  • 16 August: Mosaddegh officially announced the dissolution of the parliament.[5]
  • 19 August: The government was overthrown in a coup d'état.[3]

Campaign

Position Organization Ref
Yes
Iran Party [2]
Iranian People Party [2]
Tudeh Party [2]
Pan-Iranist Party [2]
Nation Party [2]
Third Force [6]
Boycott
Toilers Party [2]
Muslim Warriors [2]

Conduct

The balloting was not secret and there were two separate voting booths, i.e. the opponents of Mossadegh had to cast their vote in a separate tent.[7][1] Critics pointed that the referendum had ignored the democratic demand for secret ballots.[8]

Results

Choice Votes %
For 2,043,389 99.94
Against 1,207 0.06
Invalid/blank votes 4
Total 2,044,600 100
Source: Direct Democracy

By city

City Yes No
Tehran[9] 101,396 67
Tabriz[10] 41,502 3
Isfahan[10] 43,505 11
Ahvaz[10] 22,771 2
Mashhad[10] 26,547 9

Reactions

Domestic

International

References