# Shortest interval between parliamentary elections? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 25, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-interval-between-parliamentary-elections/710816 "2015-01-25T02:15:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-interval-between-parliamentary-elections/710816/21 "2015-01-26T08:28:27Z")
There was a one year gap between the Prince Edward Island election of 24 April 1978, and the election of 23 April 1979. The 1978 election returned a closely divided House: Liberals 17, PCs, 15. A seat held by the Liberals became vacant and the PCs won the by-election, so the House was evenly divided: 16-16. To avoid a motion of non-confidence, the Liberal Premier called an election, which he lost. [Prince Edward Island general election, 1979](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_Island_general_election,_1979) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-interval-between-parliamentary-elections/710816/22 "2015-01-26T08:37:08Z")
In Quebec, there was a less than one year gap between the 1935 and 1936 elections. The Liberals won a majority in the 1935 election, held on November 25, 1935, but were facing opposition from both the Conservatives and a break-away Liberal faction, Action libérale nationale (ALN), which was dissatisfied with the Liberal party. Less than a year later, a scandal broke involving the Liberals. The Premier resigned and was replaced by another Liberal leader, who called an election for August 17, 1936, which the Liberals lost. [Quebec General Election, 1936](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_general_election,_1936) ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-interval-between-parliamentary-elections/710816/23 "2015-01-26T12:58:24Z")
Thailand changes governments so frequently that it was a major news item when Pol.-Lt.Col. Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra (now a criminal fugitive living in Dubai) completed a full term. However, since Prime Ministers are often changed by court order or coup d’état, back-to-back elections aren’t so common. In fact, I see only five cases in history where the gap between general elections was less than 17 months. 6 months – 22 Mar 1992 to 22 Sep 1992 10 months – 25 Feb 1957 to 15 Dec 1957 14 months – 26 Jan 1975 to 4 Apr 1976 14 months – 5 Feb 2005 to 2 Apr 2006 16 months – 29 Jan 1948 to 5 Jun 1949 During the six month gap in 1992, three different people served as P.M., none of them the one chosen by the Parliamentary majority. The Parliament’s choice’s chances went downhill when U.S. government accused him of being a heroin smuggler. :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-interval-between-parliamentary-elections/710816.md?page=1)