1978 Belgian general election

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1978 Belgian general election
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
  1977 17 December 1978 1981  

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Paul Vanden Boeynants 1966.jpg
Andre Cools.jpg
Karel van Miert (SP, Belgie), Bestanddeelnr 933-5684.jpg
Leader Paul Vanden Boeynants André Cools Karel Van Miert
Party CVP PS sp.a
Leader sinceCandidate for PM19781978
Last election56 seats, 26.20%NewNew
Seats won573126
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1NewNew
Popular vote1,447,112689,876684,976
Percentage26.14%12.46%12.37%
SwingDecrease2.svg 0.06%NewNew

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb in 2011.jpg
Ministers Belgische Kabinet. Vice Eerste Minister W. de Clerq (PVV), Bestanddeelnr 918-9461.jpg
PRLW
Leader Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb Willy De Clercq André Damseaux
Party cdH Open Vld PRLW
Leader since197719771973
Last election24 seats, 7.29%17 seats, 8.54%16 seats, 3.34%
Seats won252215
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 5Decrease2.svg 1
Popular vote560,440573,387256,685
Percentage10.12%10.36%4.64%
SwingIncrease2.svg 2.83%Increase2.svg 1.82%Increase2.svg 1.30%

1978 Belgian legislative election results map.svg
Seat distribution by constituency for the Chamber of Deputies.

Government before election

Tindemans II
CVP-PSC-BSP/PSB-VU-FDF

Government after election

Vanden Boeynants II
CVP-PSC-PS-BSP-VU-FDF

General elections were held in Belgium on 17 December 1978. [1] [2] The Christian People's Party emerged as the largest party, with 57 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 29 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 94.8%. [3] Elections were also held for the nine provincial councils and for the Council of the German Cultural Community.

Contents

The snap elections were called after Prime Minister Leo Tindemans resigned over the Egmont pact, which would have transformed Belgium into a federal state. Vlaams Blok participated for the first time, which was formed out of disagreement within the People's Union over concessions in the Egmont pact.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

The primary six Flemish political parties and their results for the House of Representatives (Kamer). From 1978 to 2014, in percentages for the complete 'Kingdom'. Kamer-1978-2014.png
The primary six Flemish political parties and their results for the House of Representatives (Kamer). From 1978 to 2014, in percentages for the complete 'Kingdom'.
Belgian Chamber 1978.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian People's Party 1,447,11226.1457+1
Belgian Socialist Party (Wallonia) 689,87612.4631+31
Belgian Socialist Party (Flanders) 684,97612.3726–1
Party for Freedom and Progress 573,38710.3622+5
Christian Social Party 560,44010.1225+1
People's Union 388,7627.0214–6
Democratic Front of the Francophones 259,0194.68110
Party of Reforms and Freedom of Wallonia 256,6854.6415–1
Communist Party of Belgium 180,2343.264+4
Walloon Rally 128,1532.3240
Vlaams Blok 75,6351.371New
Democratic Union for the Respect of Labour 48,6160.881+1
All Power to the Workers 43,4830.790New
Liberal Party (Wallonia)41,4600.750New
PRLWParty for Reforms and Freedom 31,2800.5700
Belgian Socialist Party (Luxembourg) 30,2220.551New
Ecolo 21,2240.3800
Walloon Liberal Party9,8610.180New
Party of German-speaking Belgians 9,0320.1600
ECOLOG 8,3600.1500
Revolutionary Workers' League (Flanders) 6,3830.1200
Walloon Rally (Luxembourg) 6,4930.120New
Agalev 5,5560.1000
Ecology–Politics3,9220.070New
Liberal, Social and Democratic Party3,6780.070New
Belgian National Party3,4650.060New
Revolutionary Workers' League (Wallonia) 2,5970.0500
Francophone Liberal Party2,3130.040New
Belgian Progressive Party2,1230.040New
Democratic and Progressive Union 1,8430.0300
Green1,7610.030New
United Feminist Party1,6860.0300
Progressive Front–Ecologists1,5120.030New
Kaganovemus1,3760.0200
Party for Free Communication and Environmental Protection9930.020New
Party of New Forces 7290.010New
Liberal Party6980.010New
PDE3750.010New
PDRT3110.010New
Total5,535,631100.002120
Valid votes5,535,63191.61
Invalid/blank votes507,0588.39
Total votes6,042,689100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,366,65594.91
Source: Belgian Elections, [4] Global Elections Database [5]

Senate

Belgium Senate 1978.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian People's Party 1,420,77725.9329+1
Belgian Socialist Party (Wallonia) 685,30712.5117–2
Belgian Socialist Party (Flanders) 678,77612.3913+1
Party for Freedom and Progress 572,53510.4511+2
Christian Social Party 535,9399.7812+1
People's Union 384,5627.027–3
Party of Reforms and Freedom of Wallonia-PL 330,1556.036-1
Democratic Front of the Francophones 266,7134.877New
Communist Party of Belgium 182,7113.3310
Walloon Rally 123,7942.2620
Vlaams Blok 80,8091.470New
Democratic Union for the Respect of Labour 51,5710.940New
All Power to the Workers 44,3790.810New
Ecolo 43,8830.8000
Belgian Socialist Party (Luxembourg) 30,8370.561New
Party of German-speaking Belgians 11,1480.2000
Walloon Liberal Party11,0810.200New
Walloon Rally (Luxembourg) 6,6590.120New
Revolutionary Workers' League 3,7440.070New
Liberal, Social and Democratic Party3,2390.060New
Belgian Progressive Party2,8040.050New
Francophone Liberal Party2,6400.050New
Democratic and Progressive Union 2,2210.0400
United Feminist Party2,0450.0400
Revolutionary Communist Party 9170.020New
Total5,479,246100.001060
Valid votes5,479,24690.65
Invalid/blank votes565,2999.35
Total votes6,044,545100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,366,65594.94
Source: Belgian Elections [6]

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p289 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Irving, R.E.M. (1979). "The Belgian general election of 1978: Not quite a non‐event" . West European Politics. 2 (2): 250–255. doi:10.1080/01402387908424240. ISSN   0140-2382.
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p291
  4. https://wahlergebnisse.belgium.be/de/election-results/abgeordnetenkammer/1978/k%C3%B6nigreich/163055
  5. http://www.globalelectionsdatabase.com/index.php/tables/index/belgium/national-lower-house/1978
  6. https://wahlergebnisse.belgium.be/de/election-results/senat/1978/k%C3%B6nigreich/160331