1937 Siamese general election explained

Country:Thailand
Previous Election:1933
Next Election:1938
Seats For Election:91 of the 182 seats in the House of Representatives
Election Date:7 November 1937
Turnout:40.22%
Nopercentage:yes
Noleader:yes
Party1:Independents
Seats1:91
Last Election1:78
Prime Minister
Before Election:Phahon Phonphayuhasena
After Election:Phahon Phonphayuhasena

General elections were held in Siam on 7 November 1937 to elect 91 members of the 182-seat House of Representatives, with the other 91 appointed by King Ananda Mahidol. Unlike the 1933 elections, which had been carried out on an indirect basis, the 1937 elections were direct.

At the time there were no political parties,[1] so all candidates ran as independents. Voter turnout was 40%.[2]

Background

Shortly before the end of the term of the parliament elected in 1933, the second Prime Minister Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena announced his resignation following questions in the House of Representatives regarding the land purchase of the Crown Property Bureau. However, on 9 August 1937, a royal command through the Board of Regents reappointing Phahonphonphayuhasena.

Aftermath

On 21 December Phahonphonphayuhasena received a royal command reappointing him as prime minister. He formed a new cabinet with eighteen members. It was his eighth and final cabinet.[3] [4]

Notes and References

  1. [Dieter Nohlen]
  2. Nohlen et al., p278
  3. ลำดับเหตุการณ์สำคัญทางประวัติศาสตร์ในช่วงปลายระบอบเก่าและช่วงต้นระบอบใหม่, สารคดีฉบับที่ 172: มิถุนายน 2542
  4. บุญทัน ดอกไธสง, การเปลี่ยนแปลงทางการบริหารและการเมืองไทย, กรุงเทพฯ : โอเดียนสโตร์, 2520