Elections in North Korea
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Elections in North Korea are held every five years. At the national level, North Koreans elect a legislature, the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA). In addition to the Supreme People's Assembly, the people elect representatives to city, county, and provincial "people's assemblies".[1] Elections in North Korea are non-competitive, with a single unopposed candidate for each office selected beforehand by party organizations.[2]
North Korea is a de facto single party state as the Workers' Party of Korea holds virtually all power and is by far the most prominent. Two minor parties exist: the Chondoist Chongu Party and the Korean Social Democratic Party, but they are legally bound to accept the position of the Workers' Party. All candidates in the elections must be members of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland.[2] The Workers' Party of Korea dominates the Front and holds all but a few seats, and the other two parties are required to accept the leadership of the Workers' Party. Each party may nominate candidates, and the Democratic Front selects a single candidate for each office. This list of candidates is then presented to the voters, who register a yes or no vote in each race by secret ballot.[1] In this way, the voters do not themselves choose representatives, but ratify the candidates chosen by the unelected party organization. According to official reports, turnout is near 100%, and approval of the Democratic Front's candidates is unanimous or nearly so.[1]
Members of the Supreme People's Assembly are elected to five-year terms, and meet for SPA sessions up to ten days per year.[2] The Supreme People's Assembly elects a standing committee known as the Presidium, which exercises legislative functions when the Assembly is not in session. It also elects the Chairman of the National Defence Commission, the country's chief executive, and the Premier.
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[edit] Latest election
The latest election was held on March 8, 2009. The following day, North Korean media announced that Kim Jong-il was unanimously re-elected to parliament, though none of his sons were among the appointments.[3] The election committee also stated that 99.98% of all registered voters took part in voting, with 100% voting for their candidate in each district.[4] All seats were won by the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, under the control of the Worker's Party.[5]
| List | Seats |
|---|---|
Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland
|
687 |
| Total (turnout 99.98%) | 687 |
| Source:[5] | |
[edit] Past elections
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[edit] See also
- Electoral calendar
- Electoral system
- List of Korea-related topics
- Politics of North Korea
- Sham election
[edit] References
- ^ a b "DPRK Holds Election of Local and National Assemblies". The People's Korea. http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/195th_issue/2003081602.htm. Retrieved on June 28 2008.
- ^ a b "The Parliamentary System of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (PDF). Constitutional and Parliamentary Information. http://www.asgp.info/Publications/CPI-English/1992_163_01-e.pdf. Retrieved on October 1 2006.
- ^ N Korea polls 'give no clue', Press Association, March 9, 2009.
- ^ N Korea's Kim wins parliamentary seat: official media, AFP, March 9, 2009.
- ^ a b Moon, Angela; Sugita Katyal, Ralph Boulton (2009-03-08). "N.Korea vote may point to Kim successor". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5270FE20090308. Retrieved on 2009-03-08.
