1954 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 11 April 1954.[1] 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.[2] Voter turnout was 93.2%.[3] Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

1954 Belgian general election

11 April 1954

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Jean Van Houtte Achille Van Acker Henri Liebaert
Party Christian Social Socialist Liberal
Leader since Candidate for PM Candidate for PM 1953
Last election 108 seats, 47.68% 73 seats, 34.51% 20 seats, 11.25%
Seats won 95 82 24
Seat change 13 9 4
Popular vote 2,123,408 1,927,015 626,983
Percentage 41.15% 37.34% 12.15%
Swing 6.53% 2.83% 0.90%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader N/A Edgard Lalmand Walter Couvreur
Party LSK Communist CVV
Leader since N/A 1943 1954
Last election 4 seats, 1.77% 7 seats, 4.75% New
Seats won 5 4 1
Seat change 1 3 New
Popular vote 108,175 184,108 113,632
Percentage 2.10% 3.57% 2.20%
Swing 0.33% 1.18% New

Government before election

van Houtte
Christian Social

Elected Government

van Acker IV
BSP/PSB-Lib

The outgoing Catholic government led by Jean Van Houtte lost their majority in parliament. The two other main parties, the Socialist and Liberal Party, subsequently formed a rare "purple" government with Achille Van Acker as Prime Minister. Both parties had an anti-clerical agenda and aimed to reverse policies of the Catholic government regarding private schools. This would become known as the Second School War.

Results

Chamber of Deputies

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Christian Social Party2,123,40841.1595–13
Belgian Socialist Party1,927,01537.3482+9
Liberal Party626,98312.1524+4
Communist Party of Belgium184,1083.574–3
Christian Flemish People's Union113,6322.201New
Liberal-Socialist Kartels108,1752.105+1
Christian Social Rally of Liberty42,9790.831New
Radio Antwerp10,1770.200New
Middle Class9,7290.190New
Universal People3,1390.060New
Veteran Combatants1,8390.040New
Van Wonterghem1,8170.040New
Liberal Dissidents1,8070.040New
Independent Social Party1,6130.030New
Hubert List1,1430.020New
Camus List1,0010.020New
Independent Union8840.020New
European Movement5810.010New
Flemish Bloc4560.010New
Mediator1910.000New
Independents2460.0000
Invalid/blank votes302,668
Total5,463,1541002120
Registered voters/turnout5,863,09293.18
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Christian Social Party2,387,82842.8049–5
Belgian Socialist Party2,047,26536.7042+5
Liberal Party676,68912.1311+1
Communist Party of Belgium187,8403.372–1
Liberal-Soclialist Kartels108,9661.9520
Christian Flemish People's Union82,8621.490New
People's Union36,5640.660New
Christian Social Rally of Liberty32,3330.580New
Other parties14,6610.260
Invalid/blank votes286,541
Total5,965,1301001060
Registered voters/turnout5,863,092101.74
Source: Belgian Elections

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
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