1877 Serbian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Serbia on 20 February 1877 to elect members of the Grand National Assembly.[1] The elections were called by Prince Milan on 13 February in order to convene a Grand National Assembly, which would have four times as many members as a normal National Assembly.[1] The newly elected Assembly was to convene on 26 February in the National Theatre.[2]

1877 Serbian parliamentary election
Kingdom of Serbia
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All 420 seats in the Grand National Assembly
211 seats needed for a majority
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Stevča Mihailović
Liberal
Stevča Mihailović
Liberal

A majority of the elected candidates were in favour of peace with the Ottoman Empire.[3] For the first time a Jewish candidate was elected, winning a seat in Belgrade by a large majority after receiving the backing of all parties.[3][4]

The elections were marred by violence in Kragujevac, Jagodina and Užice, with pressure to elect candidates favourable to the incumbent government and interference from the Karađorđević dynasty blamed.[5] The election results in Kragujevac and Jagodina were later annulled due to the fighting.[6] Government pressure resulted in the election of several Liberals in Belgrade despite the city being a Conservative stronghold, with over 600 voters in the city being prevented from voting by delays.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Servia". The Times. 15 February 1877.
  2. ^ "Servia". The Times. 17 February 1877.
  3. ^ a b "News in Brief". The Times. 22 February 1877.
  4. ^ a b "Servia". The Times. 22 February 1877.
  5. ^ "Servia". The Times. 23 February 1877.
  6. ^ "Servia". The Times. 24 February 1877.