Stalinist Political Electoral Theater (II). Between Ideology and Practice: The Lithuanian Elections of 1947–1948

Abstract

The article discusses the first elections to the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR and local councils in 1947–1948. The author of the article presumes that the primary goal of the elections was not the legitimization of political power but the Sovietization of the Lithuanian people; therefore, the Lithuanian party leadership set a goal for party organizations and local government bodies to involve as many people as possible to ensure universal voter participation. Based on extensive archival material, the article looks closely at the results of the election organizers in achieving their goals. It concludes that the council elections were a sham, as they were organized for a body that held no real political power within the Soviet system. Moreover, the election results did not reflect the will of the voters, as they were determined by the party leadership, even though some manifestations of direct democracy were present in the electoral process, i.e., the assemblies of voters could reject the members of election commissions and candidates proposed by party committees, and deputies were required to report to voters on how they fulfilled the promises. Elections during the Stalinist era did not address the issue of the legitimacy of Soviet rule in Lithuania, but they were an important instrument in the formation of a new Soviet identity.