1985 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 13 October 1985. The Christian People's Party emerged as the largest party, with 49 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 25 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Elections to the nine provincial councils were also held.

1985 Belgian general election

13 October 1985

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
  First party Second party Third party
 
Wilfried_Martens_1982_(cropped).jpg
PS
Karel_van_Miert_(SP,_Belgi%C3%AB),_Bestanddeelnr_933-5684.jpg
Leader Wilfried Martens Guy Spitaels Karel Van Miert
Party CVP PS sp.a
Leader since Candidate for PM 1981 1978
Last election 43 seats, 19.34% 35 seats, 12.17% 26 seats, 12.36%
Seats won 49 35 32
Seat change Increase 6 Steady Increase 6
Popular vote 1,291,244 834,488 882,200
Percentage 21.29% 13.76% 14.55%
Swing Increase 1.95% Increase 1.59% Increase 2.19%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Louis_Michel.jpg
Verhofstadt cropped.jpg
Gerard_DEPREZ_(16039228164).jpg
Leader Louis Michel Guy Verhofstadt Gérard Deprez
Party PRL Open Vld cdH
Leader since 1982 1982 1981
Last election 24 seats, 7.97% 28 seats, 12.89% 18 seats, 6.49%
Seats won 24 22 20
Seat change Steady Decrease 6 Increase 2
Popular vote 619,390 651,806 482,254
Percentage 10.21% 10.75% 7.95%
Swing Increase 2.24% Decrease 2.14% Increase 1.50%


Government before election

Martens V
CVP-PSC-PVV-PRL

Government after election

Martens VI
CVP-PSC-PVV-PRL

Prime Minister Martens

The incumbent government was a coalition of Christian democrats (CVP/PSC) and liberals (PVV/PRL) led by Prime Minister Wilfried Martens. Following the elections, the same parties formed a new Martens Government. Guy Verhofstadt, PVV leader since 1982, was elected for the first time as representative. Despite PVV being the only governing party to lose seats, he was able to weigh on the government agreement and he became Deputy Prime Minister in the Martens VI Government. The government would fall two years later due to the Voeren issue; distrust of labour unions in Verhofstadt proved to be a factor as well.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian People's Party1,291,24421.2949+6
Socialistische Partij882,20014.5532+6
Parti Socialiste834,48813.76350
Party for Freedom and Progress651,80610.7522–6
Liberal Reformist Party619,39010.21240
Social Christian Party (PSC)482,2547.9520+2
People's Union477,7557.8816–4
Agalev226,7583.744+2
Ecolo152,4832.515+3
Vlaams Blok85,3911.4110
Democratic Front of Francophones72,3611.193
Communist Party of Belgium71,6951.180–2
Democratic Union for the Respect of Labour69,7071.151–2
Workers' Party of Belgium46,0340.7600
Solidarity and Participation31,9830.530New
Socialist Workers' Party13,6810.2300
Green9,7190.160New
Walloon Party9,2840.150New
Organic Front for the Cultural Renewal of Solidarist Europe8,2210.140New
Union for a New Democracy6,6090.110New
Party of German-speaking Belgians5,2280.0900
National Front3,7380.060New
Christian Liberal Party3,4420.060New
Parti Communautaire National-Européen1,7630.030New
Zo Maar1,6300.030New
United Feminist Party1,2010.0200
Union of Progressive Walloons8280.010New
Flemish People's Party6780.010New
Charlier6550.010New
GIOT6400.010New
Humanist Party5180.010New
Appeal to All4640.010New
SDU–USD4120.010New
Total6,064,260100.002120
Valid votes6,064,26092.55
Invalid/blank votes487,9747.45
Total votes6,552,234100.00
Registered voters/turnout7,001,29793.59
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian People's Party1,260,11321.0225+3
Socialistische Partij868,62414.4916+3
Parti Socialiste832,79213.89180
Party for Freedom and Progress637,77610.6411–3
Liberal Reformist Party588,3739.8213+2
People's Union484,9968.098–2
Social Christian Party475,1197.9310+2
Agalev229,2063.822+1
Ecolo163,3612.732–1
Vlaams Blok90,1201.5000
Democratic Union for the Respect of Labour73,0451.220–1
Communist Party of Belgium71,0201.180–1
Democratic Front of Francophones70,2391.171
Workers' Party of Belgium44,7990.7500
Solidarity and Participation33,5540.560New
Socialist Workers' Party16,7860.2800
Green10,9880.180New
Walloon Party10,5390.180New
Organic Front for the Cultural Renewal of Solidarist Europe9,3180.160New
Union for a New Democracy7,2000.120New
Party of German-speaking Belgians5,3640.090New
National Front4,2010.070New
Christian Liberal Party3,2670.050New
United Feminist Party1,4300.0200
Parti Communautaire National-Européen1,3120.020New
Flemish People's Party4460.010New
Paix4430.0100
Total5,994,431100.001060
Valid votes5,994,43191.48
Invalid/blank votes558,2598.52
Total votes6,552,690100.00
Registered voters/turnout7,001,29793.59
Source: Belgian Elections

References

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