1981 Belgian general election

Last updated

1981 Belgian general election
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
  1978 8 November 1981 1985  

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Mark Eyskens 1986.jpg
Andre Cools.jpg
Ministers Belgische Kabinet. Vice Eerste Minister W. de Clerq (PVV), Bestanddeelnr 918-9461.jpg
Leader Mark Eyskens André Cools Willy De Clercq
Party CVP PS Open Vld
Leader sinceCandidate for PM19781977
Last election57 seats, 26.14%31 seats, 12.46%22 seats, 10.36%
Seats won433528
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 14Increase2.svg 4Increase2.svg 6
Popular vote1,165,239733,137776,871
Percentage19.34%12.17%12.89%
SwingDecrease2.svg 6.80%Decrease2.svg 0.29%Increase2.svg 2.53%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
Karel van Miert (SP, Belgie), Bestanddeelnr 933-5684.jpg
PRL
Victor anciaux-1486816672.jpg
Leader Karel Van Miert Jean Gol Vic Anciaux
Party sp.a PRL VU
Leader since197819791979
Last election26 seats, 12.37%15 seats, 4.64%14 seats, 7.02%
Seats won262420
Seat changeSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg 9Increase2.svg 6
Popular vote744,593480,380588,436
Percentage12.36%7.97%9.77%
SwingDecrease2.svg 0.01%Increase2.svg 3.33%Increase2.svg 2.75%

1981 Belgian legislative election results map.svg
1981 Belgian senate election results map.svg

Government before election

M. Eyskens
CVP-PSC-PS-SP

Government after election

Martens V
CVP-PSC-PVV-PRL

General elections were held in Belgium on 8 November 1981. [1] [2] Voter turnout was 94.5% in the Chamber election and 94.6% in the Senate election. [3] Elections were also held for the nine provincial councils and for the Council of the German Cultural Community. They were the first elections after the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. This contributed to the success of the socialist parties and the green parties (Agalev and Ecolo).

Contents

The traditionally largest Christian People's Party saw significant losses, with only 43 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. The result was considered an election upset. [2]

Results

Chamber of Representatives

Belgian Chamber 1981.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian People's Party 1,165,23919.3443–14
Party for Freedom and Progress 776,87112.8928+6
Parti Socialiste 764,92112.7035+4
Socialistische Partij 744,59312.36260
People's Union 588,4369.7720+6
Liberal Reformist Party 480,3807.9724+9
Social Christian Party 390,8966.4918–7
FDFWalloon Rally 253,7204.218–3
Democratic Union for the Respect of Labour 163,7272.723+2
Ecolo 151,8262.522+2
Agalev 138,5752.302+2
Communist Party of Belgium 138,9782.312–2
Vlaams Blok 66,4241.1010
Workers' Party of Belgium 45,8040.760New
Christian Social Party 39,9610.660New
PRLPFF 35,9250.600New
WALLON31,0610.520New
Party of German-speaking Belgians 8,3970.1400
Party of New Forces 7,5810.1300
Revolutionary Workers' League 7,1100.1200
Revolutionary Workers' League for Socialism5,2410.090New
BLANCO4,1180.070New
Direct Democracy3,5450.060New
Belgian National Party3,3570.060New
Francophone National Union2,9140.050New
Party for Christian Politics Alternative1,7850.030New
United Feminist Party8560.0100
Appeal to Youth8380.010New
Democratic Radical Union5980.010New
List 125880.010New
List 143720.010New
Namur Independent Candidate2100.000New
List 131800.000New
Total6,025,027100.002120
Valid votes6,025,02792.66
Invalid/blank votes477,0437.34
Total votes6,502,070100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,877,46694.54
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Belgium Senate 1981.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian People's Party 1,149,35319.2622–7
Party for Freedom and Progress 781,13713.0914+3
Parti Socialiste 755,51212.6618New
Socialistische Partij 732,12612.2713New
People's Union 587,0029.8410+3
Liberal Reformist Party 515,8688.6411New
Social Christian Party 414,7336.958–4
FDFWalloon Rally 255,7274.284–3
Democratic Union for the Respect of Labour 164,1312.751+1
Ecolo 153,9892.583+3
Communist Party of Belgium 140,5772.3610
Agalev 121,0162.031New
Vlaams Blok 71,7331.2000
Workers' Party of Belgium 49,5770.830New
WALLON30,6320.510New
Party of German-speaking Belgians 8,7700.1500
Revolutionary Workers' League 8,4500.1400
Revolutionary Workers' League for Socialism5,8940.100New
Party of New Forces 5,3170.090New
ECOLOS 2,7960.050New
Francophone National Union2,7210.050New
Direct Democracy2,2950.040New
Party of New Forces (Wallonia) 2,0920.040New
GOOSSE1,5110.030New
BELGE1,3260.020New
United Feminist Party1,0520.0200
Protest from the Small Saver7370.010New
Democratic Radical Union6290.010New
List 126260.010New
PAIX6110.010New
List 143780.010New
List 131110.000New
Total5,968,429100.001060
Valid votes5,968,42991.78
Invalid/blank votes534,2978.22
Total votes6,502,726100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,877,46694.55
Source: Belgian Elections

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983 Austrian legislative election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 24 April 1983. The result was a victory for the Socialist Party, which won 90 of the 183 seats. However, the Socialists lost the outright majority they had held since 1971, prompting Bruno Kreisky to stand down as SPÖ leader and Chancellor in favour of Fred Sinowatz. The SPÖ stayed in office by entering into a coalition government with the Freedom Party of Austria, which at this point was a liberal party. Voter turnout was 93%.

Parliamentary elections were held in Greece on Sunday, 18 October 1981. PASOK, led by Andreas Papandreou, faced New Democracy, led by Georgios Rallis. Papandreou achieved a landslide and PASOK formed the first socialist government in the history of Greece.

Presidential elections were held in Iceland on 29 June 1996. The result was a victory for Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, who received 41.4% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1949 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 26 June 1949. Several reforms took effect prior to the elections; they were the first after the introduction of universal women's suffrage; the number of seats in the Chamber of Representatives was increased from 202 to 212, and from now on, elections for the nine provincial councils were held simultaneously with parliamentary elections. The number of Chamber seats and the simultaneous provincial and parliamentary elections would remain unchanged until state reforms in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1950 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 4 June 1950. The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 108 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 54 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 92.6%. This election was the last one in Belgian history where a single party achieved an absolute majority. Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1954 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 11 April 1954. 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. Voter turnout was 93.2%. Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1958 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 1 June 1958. The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 104 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 53 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 93.6% in the Chamber election and 93.7% in the Senate election. Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1961 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 26 March 1961. 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. Voter turnout was 92.3%. Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1965 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 23 May 1965. The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 77 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 44 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 91.6%. Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 7 November 1971. The result was a victory for the Christian People's Party, which won 40 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 34 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 91.5%. Elections to the nine provincial councils were also held.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 10 March 1974. The Belgian Socialist Party emerged as the largest faction in the Chamber of Representatives with 59 of the 212 seats. Voter turnout was 90.3%. Elections were also held for the nine provincial councils, as well as for the Council of the German Cultural Community for the first time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1977 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 17 April 1977. The result was a victory for the Christian People's Party, which won 56 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 28 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 95.1%. Elections were also held for the nine provincial councils and for the Council of the German Cultural Community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 17 December 1978. 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%. Elections were also held for the nine provincial councils and for the Council of the German Cultural Community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1932 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 27 November 1932. The Catholic Party won 79 of the 187 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 42 of the 93 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 94.3%.

General elections were held in Belgium on 16 November 1919. Although the Belgian Labour Party received the most votes in the Chamber of Representatives elections, the Catholic Party remained the largest party in both the Chamber and the Senate. Voter turnout was 88.5% in the Chamber elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1921 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 20 November 1921. The result was a victory for the Catholic Party, which won 70 of the 186 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. Voter turnout was 91.1% in the Chamber election and 91.0% in the Senate election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 Austrian nuclear power referendum</span>

A referendum on the use of nuclear power was held in Austria on 5 November 1978. Voters were asked whether they approved a law allowing the peaceful use of nuclear power, particularly relating to the start-up of the Zwentendorf Nuclear Power Plant. Voters narrowly rejected it, with 50.5% voting against. As a result, although the Power Plant was finished, it never operated and has been repurposed for various projects over the years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1894 Belgian general election</span>

Full general elections were held in Belgium on 14 October 1894, with run-off elections held on 21 October 1894.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1929 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 26 May 1929. The result was a victory for the Catholic Party, which won 71 of the 187 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. Voter turnout was 94.0%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1936 Belgian general election</span>

General elections were held in Belgium on 24 May 1936. The result was a victory for the Belgian Labour Party, which won 70 of the 202 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 39 of the 101 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 94.7%.

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p289 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. 1 2 Hearl, Derek; Rudd, Christopher (1982). "The Belgian general election of 1981: A preliminary report". Electoral Studies. 1 (1): 100–106. doi:10.1016/0261-3794(82)90133-0. ISSN   0261-3794.
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p291