The 1935 Czechoslovak presidential election took place on 18 December 1935. Edvard Beneà ¡ was elected the second President of Czechoslovakia and replaced TomÃ¡à ¡ Garrigue Masaryk. Beneà ¡'s victory was considered unlikely due to lack of support in a parliament but negotiations helped him to win much larger support than Masaryk has ever received.
Edvard Beneà ¡ was considered Masaryk's successor since 1918. His candidacy in the 1934 election was opposed by the Republican Party of Farmers and Peasants and the large party of Social Democrats and TomÃ¡à ¡ Garrigue Masaryk decided to run for his fourth term. He was reelected on 1934. The 1935 parliamentary election resulted in the success of the Sudeten German Party (SdP). SdP remained in opposition and Milan Hodà ¾a eventually became the new Prime Minister. TomÃ¡à ¡ Garrigue Masaryk decided to resign on his position due to his poor health. Hodà ¾a wanted to postpone Masaryk's resignation but agreed that he will support Beneà ¡. Beneà ¡'s candidacy was supported by National socialists, Social Democrats and Populars. Republicans and Traders opposed it and wanted Masaryk to remain president.
The leader of Republicans Rudolf Beran tried to persuade Masaryk to not resign but Masaryk declined. The Republicans decided to not support Beneà ¡ and started to look for their own candidate. Bohumil NÃÂmec was eventually nominated as the party's candidate. He quickly received support of Czechoslovak Traders' Party and Hlinka's Slovak People's Party. Beneà ¡ managed to receive support of National socialists and Social Democrats. NÃÂmec was then endorsed by National Unification and the National Fascist Community. Hodà ¾a resigned due to his failure to find support for Beneà ¡ but Masaryk didn't accept it. Masaryk resigned on 14 December 1935. He suggested Beneà ¡ as the new president.
Beran tried to convince the Sudeten German Party to vote against Beneà ¡ but failed. Beneà ¡ on the other hand convinced Hlinka's Slovak People's Party to support him. Beran eventually agreed to negotiate with Beneà ¡. NÃÂmec withdrew from election on 17 December 1935 and Republican Party of Farmers and Peasants agreed to support Beneà ¡. Beneà ¡ also received indirect support from the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia on 17 December 1935.
The right wing and nationalist press led a campaign against Beneà ¡. Parties used their own newspapers for the campaign. The Republicans tried to persuade people that NÃÂmec is the only candidate who can be the President of all. The National Unification was strictly against Beneà ¡ and tried to undermine Beneà ¡'s image of the national candidate. The National Socialists and Social Democrats used their newspapers to support Beneà ¡. Populars eventually supported Beneà ¡ due to Masaryk's wish. The Communists supported Beneà ¡ because NÃÂmec was supported by Fascist parties.
The president was elected by a bicameral parliament that consisted of 300 Deputies and 150 Senators. A candidate needed 60% of votes to be elected.
Voting was held on 18 December 1935. 440 electors participated in the election. Beneà ¡ received 340 votes while 76 votes were blank. 24 electors voted for NÃÂmec despite his withdrawal from election. Beneà ¡'s support was unexpectedly high.
Beneà ¡ became second president of Czechoslovakia. He led Czechoslovakia until 1938 when he had to leave Czechoslovakia due to World War II and formed the Czechoslovak government-in-exile. He became the leader of the resistance to Nazi Germany and returned to his position as the president of Czechoslovakia when the country was liberated. He resigned in 1948 due to the 1948 coup d'état.