1939 Belgian general election

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1939 Belgian general election
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
  1936 2 April 1939 1946  
Chamber of Representatives

All 202 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
PartyLeaderVote %Seats+/–
PCKVV Hubert Pierlot 32.7173+12
Labour Paul-Henri Spaak 30.1964−6
Liberal Émile Coulonvaux 17.1933+10
VNV Staf De Clercq 8.2817+1
PVDA-PTB Collective leadership5.3690
Rexist Léon Degrelle 4.444−17
Technocrat Leo Frenssen 1New
Veterans 1New
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Senate

All 101 seats in the Senate
PartyLeaderVote %Seats+/–
Catholic Hubert Pierlot 30.7135+1
Labour Paul-Henri Spaak 30.6435−4
Liberal Émile Coulonvaux 17.5716+5
VNV Staf De Clercq 7.768+3
PVDA-PTB Collective leadership5.043−1
Rexist Léon Degrelle 4.131−7
KVV Alfons Verbist 2.753New
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Government beforeGovernment after election
Spaak I
National Unity (LabCatholicLib)
Pierlot I
CatholicLab

General elections were held in Belgium on 2 April 1939. [1] The result was a victory for the Catholic Party, which won 67 of the 202 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. Voter turnout was 93.3%. [2]

Contents

On 22 February 1939, the Pierlot Government succeeded the Spaak Government. The Spaak Government was in a political crisis caused by, among other things, the Martens Affair. As the Pierlot Government fell as well and the ministers failed to form a stable government, King Leopold III insisted on a dissolution of parliament, but the council of ministers refused due to fear of electoral losses. It was not Prime Minister Pierlot, but the Minister of the Interior who provided the required contresignant of the royal order of 6 March 1939 which dissolved the Chambers and triggered the snap elections.

After the election, Pierlot continued as Prime Minister. The elections were the last before World War II.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

Belgian Chamber 1939.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Catholic Party 764,84332.7167+6
Catholic Flemish People's Party 6New
Belgian Labour Party 705,96930.1964–6
Liberal Party 401,99117.1933+10
Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond 193,5288.2817+1
Communist Party of Belgium 125,4285.3690
Rexist Party 103,8214.444–17
Heimattreue Front 7,7330.330New
Technocrat Party 35,1241.501New
Veterans1New
Walloon Party0New
Socialist dissidents00
Liberal dissidents0New
Revolutionary Socialist Action00
Lahaut List0New
Liste De Keyser (Tchno)0New
Walloon Dissident Party0New
Verbist0New
Independents00
Total2,338,437100.002020
Valid votes2,338,43793.96
Invalid/blank votes150,4426.04
Total votes2,488,879100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,667,34193.31
Source: Mackie & Rose, Belgian Elections

Senate

Belgium Senate 1939.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Catholic Party 703,25030.7135+1
Belgian Labour Party 701,55230.6435–4
Liberal Party 402,32617.5716+5
Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond 177,6667.768+3
Communist Party of Belgium 115,3085.043–1
Rexist Party 94,5434.131–7
Catholic Flemish People's Party 62,9762.753New
Independents32,2091.4100
Total2,289,830100.001010
Valid votes2,289,83092.00
Invalid/blank votes199,0338.00
Total votes2,488,863100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,667,34193.31
Source: Belgian Elections [3]

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p289 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p290
  3. Belgian Elections