1955 Saar Statute referendum

1955 Saar Statute referendum
23 October 1955 (1955-10-23)
Do you approve the European Statute for the Saarland agreed between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of the French Republic on 23 October 1954 with the consent of the Government of the Saarland?
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 201,973 32.29%
No 423,434 67.71%
Valid votes 625,407 97.55%
Invalid or blank votes 15,725 2.45%
Total votes 641,132 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 662,839 96.73%

A referendum on the Saar statute was held in the Saar Protectorate on 23 October 1955.[1] The statute would have made the territory an independent polity under the auspices of a European Commissioner, to be appointed by the Council of Ministers of the Western European Union, while remaining in the economic union with France.

Its rejection by voters was taken as an indication that they would rather reunite with West Germany.[2] On 27 October 1956 France and West Germany concluded the Saar Treaty establishing that Saarland should be allowed to join West Germany as provided by article 23 of its constitution (Grundgesetz). Saarland subsequently became a state of Germany with effect from 1 January 1957.[2]

  1. ^ Results of the referendum on the Saar Statute CVCE
  2. ^ a b Rearmament and the European Defense Community Library of Congress Country Studies