1959 United Nations Security Council election

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1959 United Nations Security Council election

From October 12 to December 12, 1959, the United Nations General Assembly elected three non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for two-year terms beginning January 1, 1960. At the time, the Security Council had 11 seats: five permanent members and six non-permanent members. Non-permanent members serve two-year terms and may not seek re-election immediately.

Five countries ran for the three seats: Ecuador (South America), Ceylon/Sri Lanka (Asia), Panama, Poland (Eastern Europe), and Turkey (WEOG). In the first round on October 12, Ecuador and Ceylon were elected, leaving one seat still open. The remaining contest was between Poland and Turkey for the last seat.

The following weeks saw many rounds of voting (Day 1 alone had 13 rounds, with additional rounds on subsequent days) but no final result immediately. On December 12, 1959, a final agreement was reached: Poland would win the third seat for 1960, with the understanding that Poland would withdraw on December 31, 1960. This would allow Turkey to fill the seat for 1961. Poland received 71 votes in the final ballot.

There were 81 UN member states at that time.