Norwegian monarchy referendum, 1905

Norwegian monarchy referendum
Should the government of Norway remain as a monarchy?
Location Norway
Date 12 November 1905 (1905-11-12)-13 November 1905 (1905-11-13)
Results
Votes %
Yes 259,563 78.94%
No 69,264 21.06%
Valid votes 328,827 99.27%
Invalid or blank votes 2,403 0.73%
Total votes 331,230 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 439,748 75.32%
Kingdom of Norway
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Norway
Constitution

A referendum on retaining the monarchy or becoming a republic was held in Norway on 12 and 13 November 1905.[1] Voters were asked whether they approved of the Storting's decision to authorise the government to make the offer of the throne of the newly self-ruling country.[2]

The proposal was approved by 78.9% of voters.[3] Following the referendum, the parliament offered Prince Carl a mandate to the Norwegian throne on 18 November. The new royal family arrived in Norway on 25 November. King Haakon VII (formerly Prince Carl) and Queen Maud were crowned in a ceremony in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim 22 June 1906.[4]

Summary

On 7 June 1905, the Parliament approved the dissolution of the union with Sweden; as a result, Swedish King Oscar II abdicated as King of Norway. He refused the reconciliation offer to allow a Swedish prince to take the Norwegian throne.[2]

So, Parliament turned to the Danish Prince Carl. In addition to the positive personal qualities, it was pointed out that he was Scandinavian and would understand the Norwegian language and culture. Through Princess Maud, he had close ties to the United Kingdom and the British royal family, and an heir to the throne was already guaranteed through his son, the two-year-old Alexander.[2]

In Norway, it was debated whether the new government would be a monarchy or a republic. Prince Carl demanded that the issue should be submitted to a referendum, as he wanted an assurance that a majority of the population wanted Norway to remain as a monarchy.[2]

The question posed was:

Enig i Stortingets bemyndigelse til regjeringen om at opfordre prins Carl af Danmark til at lade sig vælge til Norges konge?
(Do you agree with the Storting's authorization to the government to invite Prince Carl of Denmark to become King of Norway?)

A majority voted for monarchy, and on 18 November the Parliament selected Prince Carl as king. The Speaker of Parliament sent him a telegram and offered him the throne of Norway.[2]

The prince accepted the election, and on 25 November 1905 the new Norwegian royal family landed at Vippetangen in Christiania (Oslo). He took the name Haakon and gave his son the name Olav, names that linked the new royal house to the Norwegian kings from the Middle Ages. On 22 June 1906, King Haakon and Queen Maud were crowned in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.[2]

Results

Choice Votes %
For259,56378.9
Against69,26421.1
Invalid/blank votes2,403–
Total331,230100
Registered voters/turnout439,74875.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1437 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kong Haakon VII (1872-1957) Kongehuset (in Norwegian)
  3. ↑ Nohlen & Stöver, p1446
  4. ↑ Kroninga av Kong Haakon og Dronning Maud Kongehuset (in Norwegian)

Further reading

  • Bomann-Larsen, Tor (2006) Haakon og Maud III/Vintertronen (Oslo: Cappelen) ISBN 978-82-02-24665-5
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