1956 Eritrean parliamentary election
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This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. |
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Constitution (not enforced) |
Elections |
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Assembly elections were held in Eritrea on 5 and 6 September 1956.[1] All candidates ran as independents.[2]
Background
[edit]Elections had previously been held in 1952 during the British administration. Following the elections, article 45 of the new Eritrean constitution required that the Legislative Assembly pass a new electoral law to replace the 1951 proclamation and establish an Electoral High Commission prior to the next elections.[1] In 1953 the Assembly rejected a draft law, and the government obtained confirmation from the Attorney General that the 1951 proclamation would still be applicable.[3]
However, this had not been done, and in the months leading up to the 1956 elections the Muslim League asked the Supreme Court to declare them unconstitutional.[3]
Conduct
[edit]The Eritrean police force began harassing opponents of the Unionist Party government in September 1955 under the leadership of pro-Unionist Tedla Ogbit.[3] The federal authorities also intervened to "frighten off any possible opposition", and one anti-Unionist candidate, Muhammed Omar Akito, had a bomb thrown into his living room.[4]
However, the Supreme Court made some interventions on behalf of the opposition, demanding opposition candidate Fessha Woldermariam be released from police detainment after he was arrested a week before nominations closed.[3] It also confirmed the victory of opposition candidate Muhammed Omar Akito, which the Assembly had declared invalid.[4]
Results
[edit]A total of 188 candidates contested the 68 seats, with 32 Unionists elected.[4]
Elected members
[edit]Division | Elected member | Affiliation |
---|---|---|
AkeleGuzai Division | Ato Ghebrekidan Tesemma | Anti-Unionist |
Bashai Habte Tesfamikael | Unionist Party | |
Dejach Berhe Asmerom | Anti-Unionist | |
Ato Tewelde Tedla | Unionist Party | |
Fit. Negash Bariaeghzi | Unionist Party | |
Dej. Ghebrezghi Guangul | Anti-Unionist | |
Fit. Saleh Omar | Anti-Unionist | |
Sayid Ahmed Saleh Barole | Anti-Unionist | |
Sayid Sunabara Damana | Anti-Unionist | |
Graz. Abdella Omar | Anti-Unionist | |
Lij. Alemseged Belai | Unionist Party | |
Azmatch Reda Guangul | Unionist Party | |
Asmara Division | Demsas Woldemikael | Unionist Party |
Ibrahim Ali Bekit | Anti-Unionist | |
Solomon Hailemelokot | Unionist Party | |
Berhanu Ahmeddin | Anti-Unionist | |
Habtesghi Ogbasghi | Unionist Party | |
Fessaha Woldemariam | Anti-Unionist | |
Keshi Meascio Bein | Unionist Party | |
Assab Division | Rashid Sirru | |
Hamasen Division | Bashai Tekeste Seleba | |
Bashai Ghebrehiwet Tesfai | Unionist Party | |
Azmatch Hagos Sereke | Unionist Party | |
Ato Berhe Ghebrehiwet | Unionist Party | |
Ato Belai Ghebremariam | Unionist Party | |
Graz. Ghebremariam T | Unionist Party | |
Keren Division | Sayid Hussein Kafeel | Anti-Unionist |
Sayid Ismael Daud | ||
Sayid Sefaf Hiyabu | Unionist Party | |
Cavalier Abbe Mohammed | ||
Ato Abreha Wonderas | Unionist Party | |
Sheik Hamid Sayid Hamid | ||
Sayid Yusuf Faki Ali | Anti-Unionist | |
Sayid Mohammed Ale Abdella | ||
Sayid Omar Sheikh Mohammed Amir | Anti-Unionist | |
Sayid Mohammed Sayid M. Hasseno | Anti-Unionist | |
Haj Mohammed Mussa Mender | Anti-Unionist | |
Sayid Abdu Sheikh Ali | Anti-Unionist | |
Sayid Osman Mohammed | Anti-Unionist | |
Sayid Osman Abdurrahman Sheferai | ||
Sayid Omar Adem Idris | Anti-Unionist | |
Sayid Al Hassan Mohammed Akola | ||
Sayid Hamid Ferej Hamid | ||
Sayid Adem Suleiman Dighe | ||
Sayid Mohammed Badumme Kassu | Anti-Unionist | |
Sayid Faid Tinga Longhi | Anti-Unionist | |
Sayid Mohammed Arey Agaba | ||
Massawa Division | Hajj Osman Mohammed Hindi | Anti-Unionist |
Ato Misgun Bokru | Unionist Party | |
Massawa Sub-Division | Sayid Mohammed Ali Sheikh el Amin | |
Sheikh Kekkia Pasha | Unionist Party | |
Sayid Mohammed Ali Maliki | ||
Serae Division | Bashai Berhane Tecle | Unionist Party |
Azmatch Fasil Habtu | Unionist Party | |
Kegnaz Yihdego Ghebrerufael | Unionist Party | |
Keshi Woldeyohannes Tzadu | Unionist Party | |
Ato Tesfai Zemikael | ||
Keshi Dimetros Ghebremariam | Unionist Party | |
Ato Nega Naizghi | Unionist Party | |
Ato Ogbe Haile | Unionist Party | |
Azmatch Woldemikael Beraki | Unionist Party | |
Graz. Asmerom Woldeghiorghis | Unionist Party | |
Ato Ghebremikael Derzo | Unionist Party | |
Graz. Tesfamikael Werke | Unionist Party | |
Source: Report On Elections For The Second Assembly Of Eritrea |
Aftermath
[edit]The self-dissolution of the Assembly in 1962 was the pretext for annexation of Eritrea by Imperial Ethiopia.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Tekeste Negash (1997) Eritrea and Ethiopia: The Federal Experience, Nordic Africa Institute, p115
- ^ a b Dolf Sternberger, Bernhard Vogel, Dieter Nohlen & Klaus Landfried (1978) Die Wahl der Parlamente: Band II: Afrika, Erster Halbband, p332 (in German)
- ^ a b c d Negash, p116
- ^ a b c Negash, p117