1932 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 27 November 1932.[1] The Catholic Party won 79 of the 187 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 42 of the 93 seats in the Senate.[2] Voter turnout was 94.3%.[3]

1932 Belgian general election

27 November 1932

All 187 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
All 93 seats in the Senate
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Charles de Broqueville Joseph Van Roosbroeck Albert Devèze
Party Catholic Labour Liberal
Leader since Candidate for PM 1918 1927
Last election 71 seats, 35.38% 70 seats, 36.02% 28 seats, 16.55%
Seats won 79 73 24
Seat change 8 3 4
Popular vote 856,027 824,946 313,722
Percentage 38.42% 37.03% 14.08%
Swing 3.04% 1.01% 2.47%

Government before election

de Broqueville II
Catholic-Liberal

Elected Government

de Broqueville II
Catholic-Liberal

Background

Prime Minister de Broqueville

The elections occurred during an economic crisis, the Great Depression. The Catholic-Liberal government led by Jules Renkin faced rising unemployment, derailing public finances and strikes benefiting the Communist Party. Parliamentary elections were due in May 1933 at the latest. On 18 October 1932, Prime Minister Renkin resigned under pressure from King Albert I, allowing the more experienced Charles de Broqueville to take charge. He immediately dissolved parliament and scheduled parliamentary elections for 27 November 1932.

Municipal elections had also occurred on 9 October 1932, where the Catholic Party lost ground to socialists and liberals. To avoid losses during the parliamentary elections, de Broqueville used the issue of education in the election campaign, which was a major issue under his previous 1911–1918 government.

His strategy worked; the Catholics won, but also the socialists and communists gained ground, whereas the liberals lost seats. The socialists refused to enter government, and the Catholic-Liberal coalition continued their government and proceeded to take drastic measures for economic recovery.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Catholic Party856,02738.4279+8
Belgian Labour Party824,94637.0373+3
Liberal Party313,72214.0824–4
Frontpartij126,1135.668–3
Communist Party of Belgium64,5522.903+2
Other parties42,5161.910–6
Invalid/blank votes38,600
Total2,266,4761001870
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Party Votes % Seats +/-
Catholic Party893,29043.9542+4
Belgian Labour Party860,05342.3139+3
Liberal Party339,12716.6911-2
Frontpartij119,7405.891-2
Communist Party of Belgium54,9022.700New
Other parties20,2561.000-3
Invalid/blank votes105,105-
Total2,137,611100930
Source Belgian Elections

References

  1. Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (31 May 2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft. p. 289. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7.
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p308
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p290
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