1972 North Korean parliamentary election

1972 North Korean parliamentary election
All 541 seats in the Supreme People's Assembly
Premier before election; Kim Il Sung; Workers' Party	Elected President ; Kim Il Sung; Workers' Party

Parliamentary elections were held in North Korea on 12 December 1972. Only one candidate was presented in each constituency, all of which were selected by the Workers' Party of Korea, although some ran under the banner of other parties or state organisations to give the illusion of democracy.^[1] Voter turnout was reported to be 100%, with 100% voting in favour of the candidates presented.^[2]

In the first session, between 25 and 28 December 1972, the SPA approved a new constitution, put into force a presidential system, with Kim Il Sung elected as president. Main topics were "The Adoptation of the Socialist Construction and of the Presidential System" and "Let Us Further Strengthen the Socialist System of Our Country".

The elections were held alongside the elections to the provincial, city and county people's assemblies.

Significance of the number 216

Kim Il Sung's constituency number 216 was deliberately set to coincide with the birthday of his son Kim Jong Il, which was February 16, and is considered as a sign of handing over Kim Il Sung's power to his son.^[3]

Results


Party or alliance			%	Seats
	Fatherland Front	Workers' Party of Korea	100	127
		Chongryon		7
		Chondoist Chongu Party		4
		Korean Democratic Party		1
		Buddhist Alliance		1
		Others		401
Total				541

Registered voters/turnout			100
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

^ Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p404 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
^ Nohlen et al., p403
^ 송우근 (2008). 북한학 특강. 들샘. p. 89. ISBN 978-8992254700.