Belgian general election, 1961

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Belgian general election, 1961
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  1958 26 March 1961 1965  

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives

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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.

Belgium Federal constitutional monarchy in Western Europe

Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe. It is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. It covers an area of 30,688 square kilometres (11,849 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.4 million. The capital and largest city is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and Liège.

The Christian Social Party (PSC-CVP) was a Christian democratic political party in Belgium, which existed from 1945 until 1968 when it split along linguistic lines.

Provinces of Belgium subdivision of Belgium

The country of Belgium is divided into three regions. Two of these regions, the Flemish Region or Flanders, and Walloon Region, or Wallonia, are each subdivided into five provinces. The third region, the Brussels-Capital Region, is not divided into provinces, as it was originally only a small part of a province itself.

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.

Gaston Eyskens Belgian prime minister

Gaston François Marie, Viscount Eyskens was a Christian democratic politician and Prime Minister of Belgium. He was also an economist and member of the Belgian Christian Social Party (CVP-PSC).

Unitary Law

The Law on Economic Growth, Social Progress and Fiscal Redressment, better known as the Unitary Law, was a Belgian law passed in 1961. The law introduced a fiscal austerity programme, intended to reduce Belgium’s large government debt and to respond to the independence of the Belgian Congo in 1960. It was championed by the Christian Social Party government of Gaston Eyskens.

Théo Lefèvre Belgian politician (1914-1973)

Théodore Joseph Albéric Marie "Théo" Lefèvre was a lawyer at the Ghent court of justice. In 1946 he became deputy of the Belgian parliament for the PSC-CVP. Between 25 April 1961 and 28 July 1965 he was the 39th Prime Minister of Belgium.

Results

Chamber of Deputies

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
Invalid/blank votes308,815
Total5,573,8401002120
Registered voters/turnout6,036,16592.34
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party 2,200,32342.1247–6
Belgian Socialist Party 1,924,60536.8445+5
Liberal Party 637,92212.2011+1
Communist Party of Belgium 163,5763.1310
People's Union 159,0963.052+2
National Movement26,2110.650New
Independent Party21,4210.410New
National Union of Independents21,4210.410New
Liberal Dissidents7,7110.150New
National Rally 5,4250.100New
National Party4,4570.090New
Walloon Unity3,4780.070New
Francophone Bloc1,9470.040New
Independents36,6460.7000
Invalid/blank votes349,475
Total5,573,9821001060
Registered voters/turnout6,036,16592.34
Source: 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