Belgian general election, 1949

Belgian general election, 1949
Belgium
26 June 1949 (1949-06-26)

All 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
106 seats in the Senate

107 (Chamber) seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Gaston Eyskens Paul-Henri Spaak
Party Christian Social Socialist
Leader since Candidate for PM Candidate for PM
Last election 92 seats, 42.54% 69 seats, 31.57%
Seats won 105 66
Seat change Increase13 Decrease3
Popular vote 2,190,895 1,496,539
Percentage 43.55% 29.76%
Swing Increase1.01% Decrease1.81%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Roger Motz Julien Lahaut
Party Liberal Communist
Leader since 1945 1945
Last election 17 seats, 8.93% 23 seats, 12.69%
Seats won 29 12
Seat change Increase12 Decrease11
Popular vote 767,180 376,765
Percentage 15.25% 7.49%
Swing Increase6.32% Decrease5.20%

Prime Minister before election

Paul-Henri Spaak
Socialist

Prime Minister

Gaston Eyskens
Christian Social

General elections were held in Belgium on 26 June 1949.[1] Several reforms took effect prior to the elections; they were the first after the introduction of universal women's suffrage; the number of seats in the Chamber of Representatives was increased from 202 to 212, and from now on, elections for the nine provincial councils were held simultaneously with parliamentary elections. The number of Chamber seats and the simultaneous provincial and parliamentary elections would remain unchanged until state reforms in 1993.

The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 105 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 54 of the 106 seats in the Senate.[2] Voter turnout was 94.4%.[3]

Results

Chamber of Deputies

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Christian Social Party2,190,89543.55105+13
Belgian Socialist Party1,496,53929.7666-3
Liberal Party767,18015.2529+12
Communist Party of Belgium376,7657.4912–11
Flemish Concentration103,8962.070New
Middle Class45,7210.910New
Independent Party20,4500.410New
Traders Union6,7090.130New
National Belgian Rally6,0770.120New
Walloon Unity5,8520.120New
Luxembourg Defence2,0240.040New
Cosmocraten6850.010New
Light6800.010New
Independent General Syndicate6100.010New
Belgian Patriotic Party550.000New
Independents6,7450.1300
Invalid/blank votes289,333
Total5,320,216100212+10
Registered voters/turnout5,635,45294.41
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Christian Social Party2,208,55346.9554+3
Belgian Socialist Party1,410,13529.9833–1
Liberal Party762,53016.2114+10
Communist Party of Belgium377,2098.025–6
Flemish Concentration66,0551.400New
Middle Class37,3020.790New
Independent Party20,3570.430New
A13,3790.280New
Traders Union5,5070.120New
Walloon Unity5,0100.110New
B5550.010New
Independents5,2410.1200
Invalid/blank votes321,017
Total5,024,677100106+5
Registered voters/turnout5,635,45289.16
Source: Belgian Elections

Constituencies

The distribution of seats among the electoral districts of the Chamber of Representatives was as follows.[4] Several arrondissements got one or more additional seats.

Province Arrondissement(s) Seats Change
Antwerp Antwerp 20 +2
Mechelen 6
Turnhout 6 +1
Limburg Hasselt 5 +1
Tongeren-Maaseik 6 +1
East Flanders Aalst 6
Oudenaarde 3
Gent-Eeklo 13 +1
Dendermonde 4
Sint-Niklaas 4
West Flanders Bruges 5 +1
Roeselare-Tielt 5 +1
Kortrijk 6
Ypres 3
Veurne-Diksmuide-Ostend 5
Brabant Leuven 7
Brussels 32 +2
Nivelles 5
Hainaut Tournai-Ath 6
Charleroi 11
Thuin 4
Mons 7
Soignies 3
Liège Huy-Waremme 4
Liège 14
Verviers 5
Luxembourg Arlon-Marche-Bastogne 3
Neufchâteau-Virton 3
Namur Namur 5
Dinant-Philippeville 4
Total 212 +10

References

  1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p289 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, pp309-311
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p290
  4. List of members of the Chamber of Representatives (1949-1950)
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