1918 Dissauian General Election

146 Seats - 74 for a Majority

The 1918 Dissauian General Election was held on the 17th of November 1918 and was the 10th legislative election in Dissau. It was called by Prime Minister, Karl Cameron, just under a week after the end of the First World War. Cameron wanted to secure a working majority to "clean up the nation" as his government had lost their majority in early 1918 after MP, Max Kilton, died related to his lung cancer. Cameron was determined to see a majority government after Kilton's resignation, believing that he would have to call an election during the war. After the war ended, Cameron seized the chance and got King William I's permission to call an election.

The election led to Labor winning 78 seats, an increase of 3 from the last election, National Moderate won 47, a decrease of 6, and Free Liberal won 13 seats, an increase of 3 from last election. Cameron's government secured a majority but was also criticized by Free Liberal and some of the media for calling an election early, something that was prevalent in the National Moderate government.

## Background

On the 29th of August 1914, the National Moderate government, led by Erik Hanshon, declared war on the German Empire and Austria-Hungary. Hanshon believed that the German Empire, the Kaiser, and the Chancellor of the German Empire, Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, were traitors to God. Hanshon sent 1000s of troops to Europe, most fighting on the western front of the war in France. Hanshon soon resigned after accidentally commanding his troops on the western front to come back home. The French government sent a formal complaint to the Dissauian government and when that messaged reached the public and the troops were sighted coming home, the media tore Hanshon to shreds, ending his career. He resigned in October 1915 and was replaced by Raymond Alecson.

Alecson failed to perform a Prime Minister, worrying about the safety of his 2,340 troops, leading to major scrutiny from the media. This led to King, William I making a historic event by partly seizing control of the government and deploying all 2,340 troops into the western front in France. This marked the first time that a monarch had intervened in political affairs in Dissau but the media did not mind the intervention and the public followed the media's opinion, making the ordeal highly overlooked. William I ended his semi-control of the government when he permitted the 4th fixed-term election to happen in late 1916. The election led to Labor winning and surprisingly the King was much happier to have Labor in power, rather than National Moderate. He said that "The Labor government will most certainly deliver a stronger stance on this war in Europe, they will take control of the situation, and rebuild this country."

After World War One ended on the 11th of November 1918, Prime Minister, Karl Cameron, asked the king to allow a snap election to be called. King William I was hesitant to agree but he eventually agreed to call an election on the 15th of November, setting the date of the election for the 18th of November 1918.

## Results

The election was very quick as there was only 3 days between William I accepting the snap election and the election actually taking place. Nevertheless, the people were generally set on who they were going to vote for, the Labor Party. Labor managed to win 78 seats, giving them an increase of 3 seats from the last election and 5 seats due to a resignation and death throughout the term. National Moderate won 55 seats, giving them a decrease of 6 seats since the last election whereas Free Liberal saw an increase of 3 seats since the last election, winning 13 seats.

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