1949 Belgian general election

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.

1949 Belgian general election

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 PVDA-PTB
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%

Chamber seat distribution by constituency

Government before election

Spaak IV
BSP/PSB-CVP/PSC

Government after election

G. Eyskens I
CVP/PSC-Lib

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

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party2,190,89543.55105+13
Belgian Socialist Party1,496,53929.7566-3
Liberal Party767,18015.2529+12
Communist Party of Belgium376,7657.4912–11
Flemish Concentration103,8962.070New
Middle Class45,7210.9100
Independent Party20,4500.410New
Traders Union6,7090.130New
Belgian National 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
Total5,030,883100.00212+10
Valid votes5,030,88394.56
Invalid/blank votes289,3335.44
Total votes5,320,216100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,635,45294.41
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party2,208,55344.9654+3
Belgian Socialist Party1,410,13528.7133–1
Liberal Party762,53015.5214+10
Communist Party of Belgium377,2097.685–6
Flemish Concentration66,0551.340New
Middle Class37,3020.760New
Independent Party20,3570.410New
A13,3790.270New
Traders Union5,5070.110New
Walloon Unity5,0100.100New
B5540.010New
Independents5,2410.1100
Total4,911,832100.00106+5
Valid votes4,911,83293.87
Invalid/blank votes321,0176.13
Total votes5,232,849100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,635,45292.86
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.

ProvinceArrondissement(s)SeatsChange
AntwerpAntwerp20+2
Mechelen6
Turnhout6+1
LimburgHasselt5+1
Tongeren-Maaseik6+1
East FlandersAalst6
Oudenaarde3
Gent-Eeklo13+1
Dendermonde4
Sint-Niklaas4
West FlandersBruges5+1
Roeselare-Tielt5+1
Kortrijk6
Ypres3
Veurne-Diksmuide-Ostend5
BrabantLeuven7
Brussels32+2
Nivelles5
HainautTournai-Ath6
Charleroi11
Thuin4
Mons7
Soignies3
LiègeHuy-Waremme4
Liège14
Verviers5
LuxembourgArlon-Marche-Bastogne3
Neufchâteau-Virton3
NamurNamur5
Dinant-Philippeville4
Total212+10

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (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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