1922 Polish presidential elections

The 1922 presidential elections were the first two Polish presidential elections in history, held eleven days apart.

1922 Polish presidential election

9 December 1922
 
Nominee Gabriel Narutowicz Maurycy Zamoyski
Party PSL "Wyzwolenie" ZLN
Popular vote 289 227
Percentage 56.01% 43.9%

President before election

Józef Piłsudski (Chief of State)
Independent

President

Gabriel Narutowicz
Independent

First election

Piłsudski with president Narutowicz.

After acquisition of independence of Poland the head of state was Naczelnik Państwa Józef Piłsudski. In a new constitution adopted by the Polish Sejm, the new head of state was to be the President of Republic of Poland - to be choose by the National Assembly (combined Sejm and Senate). After the parliamentary election, planning began for the first Polish presidential election in history.

The main probable candidate Józef Piłsudski, despite calls for him to contend, did not run for election. He proposed a former Prime Minister, Wincenty Witos, for presidency. Witos also refused. Finally Piłsudski supported the candidature of Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabriel Narutowicz.

At the time of the election the main candidates were count Maurycy Zamoyski, the candidate of National Democracy and Stanisław Wojciechowski, candidate of Polish People's Party "Piast". Narutowicz's good result was a surprise. Once the long voting was over, Zamoyski and Narutowicz advanced to the fifth ballot. Narutowicz finally won the election with the support of "Piast" (Wojciechowski was eliminated on the fourth round).

Narutowicz was sworn in as President on 11 December 1922, but was assassinated just five days later.[1]

Candidates

1922 Polish presidential election

20 December 1922
 
Nominee Stanisław Wojciechowski Kazimierz Morawski
Party PSL "Piast" ZLN
Popular vote 298 221
Percentage 57% 43%

President before election

Maciej Rataj (acting)
PSL

President

Stanisław Wojciechowski
PSL

Second election

The first election, when President of the Republic of Poland Gabriel Narutowicz was elected after several rounds by joint chambers of Sejm and Senate (at time of Second Polish Republic joint parliament elected President. The first direct vote took place in 1990). Narutowicz, however, was assassinated just five days since taking office. According to the Constitution the Sejm Marshal Maciej Rataj became Acting President of the Republic of Poland and organised new elections, which took place on 20 December. Stanislaw Wojciechowski won the second election, and took office on 22 December.[2]

Candidates

See also

References

Bibliography

  • Sławomir Koper, Józef Piłsudski. Człowiek i polityk, Warsaw 2011
  • Dodatek nadzwyczajny, "Kurjer Poznański", 9 December 1922, Poznań.


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