1961 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 26 March 1961.[1] 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.[2] Voter turnout was 92.3%.[3] Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

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 Decrease 8 Increase 4 Steady
Popular vote 2,182,642 1,933,424 649,376
Percentage 41.46% 36.72% 12.33%
Swing Decrease 5.04% Increase 0.93% Increase 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 Increase 4 Increase 3 New
Popular vote 182,407 162,238 42,450
Percentage 3.46% 3.08% 0.81%
Swing Increase 1.48% Increase 1.19% New

Chamber seat distribution by constituency

Government before election

G. Eyskens IV
CVP/PSC-Lib

Government after election

Lefèvre
CVP/PSC-BSP/PSB

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

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party2,182,64241.4696–8
Belgian Socialist Party1,933,42436.7284+4
Liberal Party649,37612.33200
People's Union182,4073.465+4
Communist Party of Belgium162,2383.085+3
National Rally42,4500.811New
Independent Party33,1740.630New
National Union of Independents12,2520.230New
National Party4,3750.080New
Liberal dissidents3,9560.080New
Walloon Unity3,4660.070New
Alleenstaande3,1010.060New
Zelfstandig2,3070.040New
Francophone Bloc1,8240.030New
Gekavemus6040.010New
Independent Workers5510.010New
Universal People4800.010New
EC Group1540.000New
Independents46,2440.881+1
Total5,265,025100.002120
Valid votes5,265,02594.46
Invalid/blank votes308,8155.54
Total votes5,573,840100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,036,16592.34
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party2,200,32342.1247–6
Belgian Socialist Party1,924,60536.8445+5
Liberal Party637,92212.2111+1
Communist Party of Belgium163,5763.1310
People's Union159,0963.052+2
National Movement26,2110.500New
Independent Party21,4210.410New
National Union of Independents13,2840.250New
Liberal dissidents7,7110.150New
National Rally5,4250.100New
National Party4,4570.090New
Walloon Unity3,4780.070New
Francophone Bloc1,9470.040New
Other parties18,4050.350
Independents36,6460.7000
Total5,224,507100.001060
Valid votes5,224,50793.73
Invalid/blank votes349,4756.27
Total votes5,573,982100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,036,16592.34
Source: Nohlen & Stöver, 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, pp309-311
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p291
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