Folketing elections were held in Denmark on 26 April 1920,^[1] except in the Faroe Islands, where they were held on 20 May. The election campaign was the most aggressive and bitter in Denmark in the 20th century.^[2] Voter turnout was 80.6% in Denmark proper and 58.8% in the Faroe Islands.^[3]

Quick Facts Party, Leader ...

April 1920 Danish Folketing election

← 1918 26 April 1920 July 1920 →

All 140 seats in the Folketing 71 seats needed for a majority

Party Leader % Seats +/– Elected in Denmark Venstre Niels Neergaard 34.23 48 +4 Social Democrats Thorvald Stauning 29.32 42 +3 Conservatives Emil Piper 19.67 28 +6 Social Liberals Carl Theodor Zahle 11.93 17 −15 Industry 2.88 4 +3 Elected in the Faroe Islands Union Oliver Effersøe 64.48 1 0 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Michael Pedersen Friis Independent Niels Neergaard Venstre

Close

In what is referred to as Easter Crisis of 1920, on 29 March King Christian X dismissed the government,^[4] the Cabinet of Zahle II consisting of members of the Danish Social Liberal Party, replacing it with a caretaker cabinet led by Otto Liebe on 30 March, as he was of the opinion that Central Schleswig should be returned to Denmark regardless of the outcome of the Schleswig Plebiscites. This led to massive protests and was referred to as a coup d'état by the Danish Social Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party.^[5] On 5 April 1920 a compromise was reached, the government was replaced with another caretaker cabinet headed by Michael Pedersen Friis and a new election was to be held as soon as possible.^[6]

Prior to the elections, a new electoral law was enacted, with all seats now elected by party-list proportional representation in multi-member constituencies, with levelling seats used to make seat shares more proportional with national vote shares.^[7] The districts elected between two and 15 members each.