1950 Belgian general election

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1950 Belgian general election

← 1949 4 June 1950 1954 →

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Jean Duvieusart Max Buset Roger Motz
Party Christian Social Socialist Liberal
Leader since Candidate for PM 1945 1945
Last election 105 seats, 43.55% 66 seats, 29.76% 29 seats, 15.25%
Seats won 108 73 20
Seat change Increase 3 Increase 7 Decrease 9
Popular vote 2,356,608 1,705,781 556,102
Percentage 47.68% 34.51% 11.25%
Swing Increase 4.13% Increase 4.76% Decrease 4.00%

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Edgard Lalmand N/A
Party PVDA-PTB LSK
Leader since 1943 N/A
Last election 12 seats, 7.49% New
Seats won 7 4
Seat change Decrease 5 New
Popular vote 234,541 87,252
Percentage 4.75% 1.77%
Swing Decrease 2.74% New

Government before election

G. Eyskens I
CVP/PSC-Lib

Elected Government

Duvieusart
Christian Social

General elections were held in Belgium on 4 June 1950.[1] The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 108 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 54 of the 106 seats in the Senate.[2] Voter turnout was 92.6%.[3] This election was the last one in Belgian history where a single party achieved an absolute majority. Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

The elections took place a few months after the divisive referendum on returning King Leopold III from exile and restoring his monarchial duties (the Royal Question). Following the election, a single-party Catholic government was formed with Jean Duvieusart as Prime Minister, who oversaw the return of King Leopold III, but who was quickly succeeded by Joseph Pholien as Prime Minister, following strikes and protests due to Leopold's return, which ultimately led to his abdication.

Results

Chamber of Deputies

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Christian Social Party 2,356,608 47.68 108 +3
Belgian Socialist Party 1,705,781 34.51 73 +7
Liberal Party 556,102 11.25 20 –9
Communist Party of Belgium 234,541 4.75 7 –5
Liberal-Socialist Kartels 87,252 1.77 4 +4
Cosmocraten 1,535 0.03 0 0
Belgian Patriotic Party 656 0.01 0 0
Independents 332 0.01 0 0
Invalid/blank votes 276,471
Total 5,219,278 100 212 0
Registered voters/turnout 5,635,452 92.62
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Christian Social Party 2,210,712 47.19 54 0
Belgian Socialist Party 1,631,368 34.82 37 +4
Liberal Party 526,575 11.24 10 –4
Communist Party of Belgium 229,093 4.89 3 –2
Liberal-Socialist Kartels 86,801 1.86 2 +2
Independents 262 0.00 0 0
Invalid/blank votes 280,854
Total 4,965,665 100 106 0
Registered voters/turnout 5,635,452 88.11
Source: Belgian Elections

References

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p289 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, pp 309–311
  3. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p291