1961 Belgian general election

1961 Belgian general election

26 March 1961
212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
First party Second party Third party   Leader Théo Lefèvre Léo Collard Roger Motz Party Christian Social Socialist Liberal Leader since Candidate for PM 1959 1958 Last election 104 seats, 46.50% 80 seats, 35.79% 20 seats, 11.05% Seats won 96 84 20 Seat change 8 4 Popular vote 2,182,642 1,933,424 649,376 Percentage 41.46% 36.72% 12.33% Swing 5.04% 0.93% 1.28%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Frans Van der Elst Ernest Burnelle Jean-Marie Evrard Party VU PVDA-PTB RN Leader since 1955 1954 1959 Last election 1 seat, 1.98% 2 seats, 1.89% New Seats won 5 5 1 Seat change 4 3 New Popular vote 182,407 162,238 42,450 Percentage 3.46% 3.08% 0.81% Swing 1.48% 1.19% New
Government before election G. Eyskens IV CVP/PSC-Lib Elected Government Lefèvre CVP/PSC-BSP/PSB

General elections were held in Belgium on 26 March 1961. The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 96 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 47 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 92.3%. Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

Prior to the elections, the centre-right government of the Christian Social and Liberal Party led by Gaston Eyskens pushed through austerity measures with a law known as the Eenheidswet or Loi Unique, despite heavy strikes in the preceding weeks, especially in Wallonia. After the elections, the Christian Democrats formed a new government with the Socialist Party instead of the Liberal Party, with Théo Lefèvre as Prime Minister.

Results

Chamber of Deputies

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Christian Social Party	2,182,642	41.46	96	–8
Belgian Socialist Party	1,933,424	36.72	84	+4
Liberal Party	649,376	12.33	20	0
People's Union	182,407	3.46	5	+4
Communist Party of Belgium	162,238	3.08	5	+3
National Rally	42,450	0.81	1	New
Independent Party	33,174	0.63	0	New
National Union of Independents	12,252	0.23	0	New
National Party	4,375	0.08	0	New
Liberal Dissidents	3,956	0.08	0	New
Walloon Unity	3,466	0.07	0	New
Alleenstaande	3,101	0.06	0	New
Zelfstandig	2,307	0.04	0	New
Francophone Bloc	1,824	0.03	0	New
Gekavemus	604	0.01	0	New
Independent Workers	551	0.01	0	New
Universal People	480	0.01	0	New
EC Group	154	0.00	0	New
Independents	46,244	0.88	1	–
Invalid/blank votes	308,815	–	–	–
Total	5,573,840	100	212	0
Registered voters/turnout	6,036,165	92.34	–	–
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Christian Social Party	2,200,323	42.12	47	–6
Belgian Socialist Party	1,924,605	36.84	45	+5
Liberal Party	637,922	12.20	11	+1
Communist Party of Belgium	163,576	3.13	1	0
People's Union	159,096	3.05	2	+2
National Movement	26,211	0.65	0	New
Independent Party	21,421	0.41	0	New
National Union of Independents	21,421	0.41	0	New
Liberal Dissidents	7,711	0.15	0	New
National Rally	5,425	0.10	0	New
National Party	4,457	0.09	0	New
Walloon Unity	3,478	0.07	0	New
Francophone Bloc	1,947	0.04	0	New
Independents	36,646	0.70	0	0
Invalid/blank votes	349,475	–	–	–
Total	5,573,982	100	106	0
Registered voters/turnout	6,036,165	92.34	–	–
Source: Belgian Elections