Belgian general election, 1958

Belgian general election, 1958
Belgium
1 June 1958
212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
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General elections were held in Belgium on 1 June 1958.[1] The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 104 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 53 of the 106 seats in the Senate.[2] Voter turnout was 93.6% in the Chamber election and 93.7% in the Senate election.[3] Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

The election took place in a political crisis known as the Second School War. The outgoing anti-clerical "purple" government of the Socialist and Liberal Party, led by Achille Van Acker, reversed policies of the previous Catholic-led government regarding private schools. The Van Acker government lost the election, leading to again a Catholic government led by Gaston Eyskens. That government, which was a few seats short of a majority in the Chamber, would be the last single-party government in Belgian history. Later in 1958, the School War was ended by a cross-party agreement and the Liberal Party joined the government.

Results

Chamber of Deputies

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Christian Social Party2,465,54946.50104+9
Belgian Socialist Party1,897,64635.7980–2
Liberal Party585,99911.0520–4
Liberal-Soclialist Kartels111,2842.1050
People's Union104,8231.981New
Communist Party of Belgium100,1451.892–2
Other parties36,9070.700
Invalid/blank votes272,774
Total5,575,1271002120
Registered voters/turnout5,954,85893.62
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Senate

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Christian Social Party2,390,36845.4553+4
Belgian Socialist Party1,886,24235.8740–2
Liberal Party574,23010.9210–1
Liberal-Soclialist Kartels111,2992.1220
Communist Party of Belgium100,7881.921–1
People's Union79,1981.5100
Democratic Party11,3090.220New
Independents16,1453.070
Invalid/blank votes320,096
Total5,579,1251001060
Registered voters/turnout5,954,85893.69
Source: Belgian Elections

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, p291
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