1956 Egyptian referendum

A double referendum was held in Egypt on 23 June 1956. The two issues were the candidacy of Gamal Abdel Nasser for the post of president, and a new constitution.[1] Both were approved, with the official figures showing 99.9% in favour of Nasser's candidacy and 99.8% in favour of the constitution.[2]

23 June 1956

Nominee Gamal Abdel Nasser Party ASU Popular vote 5,499,555 Percentage 99.9%

President before election Gamal Abdel Nasser ASU Elected President Gamal Abdel Nasser ASU

Nasser casting his vote in the 1956 constitutional referendum

Background

Prior to the vote, Nasser had been consolidating power after ousting Muhammad Naguib and launching a massive crackdown against the Muslim Brotherhood in 1954. Other opposition forces had been previously outflanked by the Liberation Rally, the official political movement of the state set up by the Revolutionary Command Council following the abolition of political parties in 1953. The Liberation Rally's purpose was to acquire mass support for the RCC across the country and was reorganized into the National Union (NU) in 1956.[3] The press also endorsed and urged support for the referendums.[4] Another chief contributor to Nasser's growing legitimacy was his personal charisma.[5] The NU chose a constitutional committee to pen the new constitution, although its members were picked by Nasser himself.[6]

Results

The referendums were overwhelmingly supported by the electorate.[1][6] According to government tallies, Nasser's bid for the presidency and the proposed constitution received almost unanimous approval by voters.[7] Nasser ran uncontested,[3] nominated by the new ruling party, the National Union. Historian Kirk J. Beatie wrote the government figures were likely fictitious, but it is also "impossible to know how accurate they were."[7] Nasser successfully used the vote to promote himself as the protector of democracy,[6] but according to author May Kassem, the vote "was utilized in an authoritarian manner" that only served to consecrate Nasser's rule.[5]

Nasser for President

Choice	Votes	%
For	5,499,555	99.9
Against	5,267	0.1
Invalid/blank votes	3,492	–
Total	5,508,314	100
Registered voters/turnout	5,859,000	94.0
Source: Nohlen et al.

New constitution

Choice	Votes	%
For	5,488,225	99.8
Against	10,016	0.2
Invalid/blank votes	10,043	–
Total	5,508,314	100
Registered voters/turnout	5,859,000	94.0
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

1. Nasser's Egypt, Arab nationalism, and the United Arab Republic p67
2. Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p340 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
3. Brownlee, Jason. (2007) Authoritarianism in an Age of Democratization. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781139464468
4. Beinin, Joel. (1990). Was the Red Flag Flying There?: Marxist Politics and the Arab-Israeli Conflict. I.B. Tauris. p. 165. ISBN 9781850432920
5. Kassem, May. (1999). In the Guise of Democracy: Governance in Contemporary Egypt. Garnet & Ithaca Press. p. 32. ISBN 9780863722547
6. Gordon, Joel. (1991). Nasser's Blessed Movement: Egypt's Free Officers and the July Revolution. Oxford University Press. p. 189. ISBN 9780195361568
7. Beattie, Kirk J. (1994). Egypt During the Nasser Years: Ideology, Politics and Civil Society. Westview Press. p. 124. ISBN 9780813384542