1953 Iranian parliamentary dissolution referendum
| |||||||||||||||||||
Dissolution or Continuation of the 17th National Consultative Assembly | |||||||||||||||||||
Results | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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
- Ayatollah Boroujerdi supported the referendum.[4]
- Mohammad Reza Shah declared the results "fraudulant".[4]
International
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0313375095.
- ^ hdl:10023/13868.
- ^ ISBN 978-1107076068
- ^ ISBN 9783319310985.
- ISBN 978-0-230-57927-9.
- ISBN 9780415636896.
- ISBN 978-0813017310
- ISBN 978-0815609070.
- ISBN 978-0-691-10134-7.
- ^ .
- ISBN 978-0-230-57927-9.