1857 Belgian general election
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All 108 seats in the Chamber of Representatives 55 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Belgium portal |
General elections were held in Belgium on 10 December 1857,[1][2] the first full general elections since 1848.[3] The elections were called by royal order of 12 November 1857, dissolving the Chamber of Representatives that had convened in a new session only two days earlier.
Going into the elections, Liberals held a majority in the Senate and the Catholics in the Chamber of Representatives. The unionist (Catholic–liberal) De Decker government resigned and a liberal government led by Charles Rogier took over shortly before the elections were called.
In the elections for the Chamber of Representatives the result was a victory for the Liberal Party, which won 70 of the 108 seats.[2] The Liberal Party now had a majority in both chambers of parliament.
Voter turnout was 79%,[3] although only 90,543 men (2% of the country's population) were eligible to vote.[2]
Campaign
[edit]Twelve of the 108 seats were uncontested, of which the Liberals won three and the Catholics nine.[3]
Results
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| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Liberal Party | 39,280 | 54.72 | 70 | +25 | |
| Catholics | 32,503 | 45.28 | 38 | –25 | |
| Total | 71,783 | 100.00 | 108 | 0 | |
| Total votes | 71,783 | – | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 90,543 | 79.28 | |||
| Source: Mackie & Rose,[3] Sternberger et al. | |||||
