1939 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 2 April 1939.[1] The result was a victory for the Catholic Party, which won 67 of the 202 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. Voter turnout was 93.3%.[2]

1939 Belgian general election

2 April 1939
All 202 seats in the Chamber of Representatives All 101 seats in the Senate
First party Second party Third party   Leader Hubert Pierlot Paul-Henri Spaak Émile Coulonvaux Party Catholic Labour Liberal Leader since Candidate for PM Candidate for PM 1937 Last election 61 seats, 27.67% 70 seats, 32.11% 23 seats, 12.40% Seats won 67 64 33 Seat change 6 6 10 Popular vote 594,133 575,775 335,966 Percentage 30.38% 29.44% 17.18% Swing 2.71% 2.77% 4.78%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Staf De Clercq Julien Lahaut Xavier Relecom Georges Van den Boom Alfons Verbist Party VNV Communist KVV Leader since 1933 1936 1936 Last election 16 seats, 7.06% 9 seats, 6.06% New Seats won 17 9 6 Seat change 1 New Popular vote 164,253 90,856 62,548 Percentage 8.40% 4.65% 3.20% Swing 1.36% 1.41% New
Government before election Spaak I National Unity (Lab-Catholic-Lib) Elected Government Pierlot I Catholic-Labour

Hubert Pierlot, Catholic Prime Minister

On 22 February 1939, the Pierlot Government succeeded the Spaak Government. The Government was in a political crisis caused by, among other things, the Martens Affair. As the Pierlot Government fell as well and the ministers failed to form a stable government, King Leopold III insisted on a dissolution of parliament, but the council of ministers refused due to fear for electoral losses. It was not Prime Minister Pierlot, but the Minister of the Interior who provided the required contreseing of the royal order of 6 March 1939 which dissolved the Chambers and triggered the snap elections.

After the election, Pierlot continued as Prime Minister. The elections were the last ones before the Second World War.