African party

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The Afrikanerparty (AP, English African Party; German for example: "Afrikaanerpartei") was a party in the South African Union . From 1948 until its dissolution in 1951, she was involved in the government. She formed a coalition with the Herenigde Nasionale Party , which was responsible for the escalating racial policy .

history

In 1939 the United Party (UP), led by Jan Smuts , split under the impression of the beginning of the Second World War. The Prime Minister Barry Hertzog refused to participate in the war on the part of the Allies and formed the people 's party (for example: "People's Party") with his colleagues . In 1941, the greater part of the people's party with the Gesuiwerde Nasionale Party by Daniel François Malan formed the Herenigde Nasionale Party (HNP), while the other part founded the African Party under the former Finance Minister Nicolaas Christiaan Havenga (1882-1957) . The AP was the more moderate of the two Boer- led parties. In contrast to the HNP, Jews were accepted as members of the AP. In the parliamentary elections in 1943, the AP came off so badly with 1.8% of the vote and zero seats that it decided not to participate in the following elections for the Provincial councils . Only in 1946 was another party congress held. Both the UP and the HNP tried to form an electoral alliance with the AP. Havenga asked Smuts, however, that he should receive the post of Prime Minister after Smuts' foreseeable resignation, which Smuts refused.

The cabinet after the 1948 elections with NC Havenga (front, 2nd from left)

Before the 1948 election , the HNP formed an alliance with the African Party to overthrow the ruling UP. The HNP did not nominate candidates in twelve constituencies and instead recommended the election of the AP candidate. The AP received 3.9% of the vote; nine AP members were elected to the Volksraad , which was just enough to achieve an absolute majority of the mandates and to form a coalition government of the two parties. Havenga became deputy prime minister. As a result, numerous apartheid laws were introduced or tightened.

In 1951 the HNP merged with the AP. The new party took the former name National Party and retained an absolute majority in parliament until 1994. Havenga remained Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister until 1954.

Party leader

  • 1941–1951: Nicolaas Christiaan Havenga

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Gideon Shimoni: Community and conscience: the jews in apartheid South Africa. University Press of New England, Lebanon 2003, ISBN 978-1584653295 , p. 25. Digitized
  2. ^ Newell Maynard Stultz: Afrikaner politics in South Africa, 1934-1948. Berkeley 1974, ISBN 0-520-02452-4 , p. 102. Digitized.
  3. ^ A b Newell Maynard Stultz: Afrikaner politics in South Africa, 1934–1948. Berkeley 1974, ISBN 0-520-02452-4 , p. 103. Digitized.