1961 Belgian general election

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1961 Belgian general election
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
  1958 26 March 1961 1965  

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
 First partySecond partyThird party
  Theo Lefevre 1964b.jpg Leo Collard 1968.jpg No image.png
Leader Théo Lefèvre Léo Collard Roger Motz
Party Christian Social Socialist Liberal
Leader sinceCandidate for PM19591958
Last election104 seats, 46.50%80 seats, 35.79%20 seats, 11.05%
Seats won968420
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 8Increase2.svg 4Steady2.svg
Popular vote2,182,6421,933,424649,376
Percentage41.46%36.72%12.33%
SwingDecrease2.svg 5.04%Increase2.svg 0.93%Increase2.svg 1.28%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image.png No image.png No image.png
LeaderFrans Van der Elst Ernest Burnelle Jean-Marie Evrard
Party VU PVDA-PTB RN
Leader since195519541959
Last election1 seat, 1.98%2 seats, 1.89%New
Seats won551
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 4Increase2.svg 3New
Popular vote182,407162,23842,450
Percentage3.46%3.08%0.81%
SwingIncrease2.svg 1.48%Increase2.svg 1.19%New

1961 Belgian legislative election results map.svg
Chamber seat distribution by constituency

Government before election

G. Eyskens IV
CVP/PSC-Lib

Government after election

Lefèvre
CVP/PSC-BSP/PSB

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.

Contents

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

Belgian Chamber 1961.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party 2,182,64241.4696–8
Belgian Socialist Party 1,933,42436.7284+4
Liberal Party 649,37612.33200
People's Union 182,4073.465+4
Communist Party of Belgium 162,2383.085+3
National Rally 42,4500.811New
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

Belgium Senate 1961.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party 2,200,32342.1247–6
Belgian Socialist Party 1,924,60536.8445+5
Liberal Party 637,92212.2111+1
Communist Party of Belgium 163,5763.1310
People's Union 159,0963.052+2
National Movement26,2110.500New
Independent Party21,4210.410New
National Union of Independents13,2840.250New
Liberal dissidents7,7110.150New
National Rally 5,4250.100New
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

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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