May 1903 Serbian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Serbia on 1 June [O.S. 19 May] 1903.^[1] However, the elected members never convened due to the May Coup that occurred on 10–11 June [O.S. 28–29 May] 1903.

Background

The elections were called after a self-coup by King Alexander I on 25 March.^[1] Alexander first issued a royal proclamation suspending the 1901 constitution and disbanding the parliament elected in 1901. He then appointed new members to the Senate. Through a second proclamation 45 minutes later, he reinstated the constitution and called for fresh elections in May.^[1]

The government prepared an agreed list of candidates, which included members of all existing parties, although only who were considered "moderate". The Radical Party boycotted the elections amidst a police crackdown on the opposition,^[2] though some independent Liberals, Radicals and Progressives presented their own lists in some constituencies.^[1]

Results

Party		Votes	%
	Government lists	182,538	57.35
	Radical and Progressive lists	134,400	42.23
	Liberal lists	1,322	0.42
Total		318,260	100.00
Source: Mitrinović & Brasić[1]

Aftermath

Due to the May Coup, during which both King Alexander I and Prime Minister Dimitrije Cincar-Marković were assassinated, a government was formed under Jovan Avakumović. The government reconvened the previous parliament with the intention of amending the constitution and to elect a new king.^[1] Fresh elections were held in September 1903 under a new constitution.

References

1. Cedomil Mitrinović and Milos N. Brasić (1937). "Yugoslavian National Assembly and Parliaments". pp. 140–141.
2. André Gerrits & Dirk Jan Wolffram (2005). Political Democracy and Ethnic Diversity in Modern European History. Stanford University Press. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-8047-4976-3.