1954 Belgian general election

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1954 Belgian general election
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
  1950 11 April 1954 1958  

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
 First partySecond partyThird party
  Brussels, Palais de la Nation, Jean Van Houtte.jpg Achiel Van Acker (1958).jpg No image.png
Leader Jean Van Houtte Achille Van Acker Henri Liebaert
Party Christian Social Socialist Liberal
Leader sinceCandidate for PMCandidate for PM1953
Last election108 seats, 47.68%73 seats, 34.51%20 seats, 11.25%
Seats won958224
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 13Increase2.svg 9Increase2.svg 4
Popular vote2,123,4081,927,015626,983
Percentage41.15%37.34%12.15%
SwingDecrease2.svg 6.53%Increase2.svg 2.83%Increase2.svg 0.90%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image.png No image.png No image.png
LeaderN/AEdgard LalmandWalter Couvreur
Party LSK PVDA-PTB CVV
Leader sinceN/A19431954
Last election4 seats, 1.77%7 seats, 4.75%New
Seats won541
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 3New
Popular vote108,175184,108113,632
Percentage2.10%3.57%2.20%
SwingIncrease2.svg 0.33%Decrease2.svg 1.18%New

1954 Belgian legislative election results map.svg
Chamber seat distribution by constituency

Government before election

van Houtte
Christian Social

Government after election

van Acker IV
BSP/PSB-Lib

General elections were held in Belgium on 11 April 1954. [1] The dominant Christian Social Party won 95 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 49 of the 106 seats in the Senate. [2] Voter turnout was 93.2%. [3] Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

Contents

The outgoing Catholic government led by Jean Van Houtte lost their majority in parliament. The two other main parties, the Socialist and Liberal Party, subsequently formed a rare "purple" government with Achille Van Acker as Prime Minister. Both parties had an anti-clerical agenda and aimed to reverse policies of the Catholic government regarding private schools. This would become known as the Second School War.

Results

Chamber of Deputies

Belgian Chamber 1954.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party 2,123,40841.1495–13
Belgian Socialist Party 1,927,01537.3482+9
Liberal Party 626,98312.1524+4
Communist Party of Belgium 184,1083.574–3
Christian Flemish People's Union 113,6322.201New
Liberal–Socialist Kartels108,1752.105+1
Christian Social Rally of Liberty 42,9790.831New
Radio Antwerp10,1770.200New
Middle Class9,7290.190New
Universal People3,1390.060New
Veteran Combatants1,8390.040New
Van Wonterghem1,8170.040New
Liberal dissidents1,8070.040New
Independent Social Party1,6130.030New
Hubert List1,1430.020New
Camus List1,0010.020New
Independent Union8840.020New
European Movement5810.010New
Flemish Bloc4560.010New
Mediator1910.000New
Independents2460.0000
Total5,160,923100.002120
Valid votes5,160,92394.46
Invalid/blank votes302,6685.54
Total votes5,463,591100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,863,09293.19
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Belgium Senate 1954.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party 2,127,69941.6349–5
Belgian Socialist Party 1,915,21337.4842+5
Liberal Party 620,97912.1511+1
Communist Party of Belgium 181,8433.562–1
Liberal–Socialist Kartels108,9662.1320
Christian Flemish People's Union 155,7583.050New
People's Union 0New
Christian Social Rally of Liberty 0New
Other parties0
Total5,110,458100.001060
Registered voters/turnout5,863,092
Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Belgian Elections

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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