World: AN ELECTION CALENDAR: Ballots Around the World

Millions of people have no say whatever in choosing their rulers. For many of those who do, it is campaign time in that periodic democratic phenomenon, the national election. Not all the votes will be so quiet and orderly as Ireland’s, which last week returned Prime Minister Sean Lemass and his Fianna Fail Party to power with diminished strength. Nor will all the elections or campaigns be democratic. Yet even amid political repression, even where issues are listlessly debated or dimly understood,. the ballot box serves as the great political symbol of freedom, and its use—or misuse—anywhere in the world is among the West’s most urgent concerns. A calendar of current and impending elections:

Country Eligible Voters To Be Chosen Parties Issues Prospects

TURKEY (Oct. 15) pop. 27,829,000.

12 million men and women over 21.

450 members of House of Representatives and 150 Senators.

Republican Peoples, led by ex-President Ismet Inonu, favored by Strongman Cemal Gursel: Justice, New Turkey, Republican Peasant, all trying to win followers of executed Premier Adnan Menderes.

Legitimacy and popularity of Gursel’s junta after last month’s hangings—which were hardly discussed by most of the intimidated candidates.

To be known this week; probable victory for Republican and Gursel.

SOUTH AFRICA (Oct. 18) pop. 15,841,000 (all races).

1,800,000 white men and women over 18.

156 (white) members of House of Assembly.

National, led by White Supremacist Premier Hendrik Verwoerd: United, chief “opposition” group only slightly less racist; Progressive, Liberal, National Union, three splinter groups that urge more rights for the blacks.

Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd’s race laws: in the background is Verwoerd’s recent withdrawal from British Commonwealth.

Verwoerd and Nationalists by a landslide.

JORDAN (Oct. 19) pop. 1,695,000.

Approximately 600,000 men over 18.

60 members of rubber-stamp Parliament; among candidates are such loyal King’s men as Amman Ford dealer, Shehab Itwal.

None: Hussein dissolved them in 1957.

None up for discussion. Behind scenes, pro-Nasser Palestinian group grumbles against Hussein’s Bedouin government.

To be known this week: certain victory for Hussein’s candidates with help from army at polls.

GREECE (Oct. 29) pop. 8,385,000.

5,000,000 men and women over 21.

300 Members of Parliament.

National Redical Union (Premier Constantine Karamanlis): Union of the Center: United Democratic Left, successor of outlawed Communist Party.

Karamanlis’ expensive public-spending program; his success of failure in fighting Communists.

Victory for Karamanlis.

PORTUGAL (Nov. 12) pop. 9,184,000.

1,250,000 men and women over 21.

130 memebers of Dictator António de Oliveira Salazar’s tame Parliament.

None; they are forbidden.

None to be debated: Salazar’s Angola war, lack of free speech, are taboo.

After a controlled vote, Salazar’s safe return to office.

PHILIPPINES (Nov. 14) pop. 27,500,000.

7,800,000 men and women over 21.

President, Vice President, eight Senators, 104 members of House of Representatives.

Nacionalista (Present President Carlos Garcia); Liberal (Vice President Diosdado Macapagal).

Ways to increase prosperity; corruption in goverment.

Uncertain; Macapagal is running strong against Old Pro Garcia.

AUSTRALIA (Dec. 9) pop. 10,398,000.

6,000,000 men and women over 21.

31 Senators, 124 members of House of Representatives.

Liberal (P.M. Robert Menzies); Country (allied with Liberals); Australian Labor; Democratic Labor.

Chiefly economic, including Menzies anti-inflation program, which increased umemployment.

Victory for Menzies.