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8 September 1946 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Recentelections
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A referendum on becoming a republic was held inBulgaria on 8 September 1946.[1] Official results showed 96% in favour of the change against only 4% in favour of retaining themonarchy, with voter turnout reported to be 92%.[2] The monarchy had effectively ended soon after thecoup of 9 September 1944, which saw theFatherland Front seize power. At that time, the regency council for the head of state, TsarSimeon II, was replaced by a new council made up entirely of members of theBulgarian Communist Party, the dominant force of the Fatherland Front.
On paper, the referendum was unconstitutional according to theTarnovo Constitution still in force at the time. Under the Tarnovo Constitution, the state system could not be changed by a referendum. The only constitutional way to do so was by convening a Grand National Assembly, which could only take place at the tsar's initiative.[3]
The country was declared apeople's republic on 15 September 1946, formally putting an end to 68 years of monarchy. On the following day, Simeon and his mother, QueenGiovanna, were forced to leave the country, although the queen had wanted to leave Bulgaria after the execution of PrinceKiril on 1 February 1945.[4]
After the referendum, elections were helda month later to elect a Grand National Assembly.[5] This body adopted a new republican constitution, known as theDimitrov Constitution, which took effect the following year.[6]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 3,833,183 | 95.63 | |
| Against | 175,231 | 4.37 | |
| Total | 4,008,414 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 4,008,414 | 96.99 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 124,507 | 3.01 | |
| Total votes | 4,132,921 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,509,354 | 91.65 | |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |||
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. Glenn E. Curtis (June 1992). "Communism". In Curtis, Glenn E. (ed.).Bulgaria: a country study.Federal Research Division,Library of Congress.LCCN 93010955.
