1965 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 23 May 1965.[1] 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.[2] Voter turnout was 91.6%.[3] Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

1965 Belgian general election

23 May 1965

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Pierre Harmel Léo Collard Omer Vanaudenhove
Party Christian Social Socialist Freedom and Progress
Leader since Candidate for PM 1959 1961
Last election 96 seats, 41.46% 84 seats, 36.72% New
Seats won 77 64 48
Seat change 19 20 New
Popular vote 1,785,211 1,403,107 1,119,991
Percentage 34.45% 28.28% 21.61%
Swing 7.01% 8.44% New

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Frans Van der Elst Ernest Burnelle Paul Brien
Party VU Communist DéFI
Leader since 1955 1954 1964
Last election 5 seats, 3.46% 5 seats, 3.08% New
Seats won 12 6 3
Seat change 7 1 New
Popular vote 346,860 247,311 68,966
Percentage 6.69% 4.77% 1.33%
Swing 3.23% 1.69% New

Government before election

Lefèvre
CVP/PSC-BSP/PSB

Elected Government

Harmel
CVP/PSC-BSP/PSB

The elections followed the implementation of the 1962 language laws. As a result, the Flemish nationalist People's Union made big gains, as well as the new Democratic Front of the Francophones which was founded as a response to the language laws.

The election also followed the founding of the Party for Freedom and Progress, succeeding the Liberal Party. The new party aimed to reach a broader voter base, in which it succeeded by more than doubling its number of seats.

Despite both government parties losing seats, they retained their sizeable majority and continued governing.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party (CVP-PSC)1,785,21134.4577–19
Belgian Socialist Party (BSP-PSB)1,465,50328.2864–20
Party for Freedom and Progress (PVV-PLP)1,119,99121.6148+28
People's Union (Volksunie)346,8606.6912+7
Communist Party of Belgium (KPB-PCB)247,3114.776+1
Democratic Front of the Francophones (FDF)68,9661.333New
Communists41,6740.800New
Walloon Front24,2450.471New
Walloon Workers' Party23,5820.461New
de Socialist14,9370.290New
Catholic Party14,0070.270New
Flemish People's Party13,3210.260New
Walloon Communist Party13,3210.260New
Independent Social Party9,4930.180New
Independent Workers Union8,6800.170New
Flemish Democrats7,9830.150New
Walloon Democratic Front5,7090.110New
Afzonderlijk4,7620.090New
Francophone Union3,7760.070New
Independent National Party3,0890.060New
Animal Protection2,5430.050New
Belgian Workers' Party2,2370.040New
Independent Rally2,2130.040New
National Party1,8890.0400
Return to Liège1,5520.030New
Union of Independents1,0140.020New
Independent Middle Class9580.020New
Kaganovemus8900.020New
Trotsky Communists3850.010New
New Resistance Movement3090.010New
Independents4930.010–1
Invalid/blank votes396,941
Total5,578,8761002120
Registered voters/turnout6,091,53491.58
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party (CVP-PSC)1,785,19134.8944–3
Belgian Socialist Party (BSP-PSB)1,449,48228.3331–14
Party for Freedom and Progress (PVV-PLP)1,111,89421.7323+12
People's Union (Volksunie)338,7706.624+2
Communist Party of Belgium (KPB-PCB)249,7964.883+2
Democratic Front of the Francophones (FDF)68,3971.341New
Walloon Democratic Front27,2150.530New
Walloon Workers' Party21,5110.420New
Independent Social Party12,1800.240New
Walloon Communist Party11,6000.230New
Francophone Union7,6560.150New
Independent Rally7,4560.150New
Independent Workers Union6,4480.130New
Catholic Party5,2260.100New
Belgian Workers' Party4,2070.080New
Independent National Party4,0660.080New
National Party2,8850.0600
Kaganovemus1,7390.030New
Independent Middle Class8310.020New
Flemish Democrats4750.010New
Invalid/blank votes461,584
Total5,578,6091001060
Registered voters/turnout6,091,53491.58
Source: Belgian Elections

Constituencies

The distribution of seats among the electoral districts was as follows for the Chamber of Representatives. Seats were reapportioned among the districts due to population growth, which was stronger in Flanders than in Wallonia, and due to several municipalities having been changed to another province following the 1962 language laws. For example, the Comines-Warneton municipalities were transferred from Ypres (West Flanders) to the newly created arrondissement of Mouscron (Hainaut), causing Ypres to lose one seat and Tournai-Ath-Mouscron to gain one seat.

ProvinceArrondissement(s)ChamberChange
AntwerpAntwerp20
Mechelen6
Turnhout7+1
LimburgHasselt6+1
Tongeren-Maaseik7+1
East FlandersAalst6
Oudenaarde3
Gent-Eeklo13
Dendermonde4
Sint-Niklaas4
West FlandersBruges5
Roeselare-Tielt5
Kortrijk6
Ypres2–1
Veurne-Diksmuide-Ostend5
BrabantLeuven8+1
Brussels33+1
Nivelles5
HainautTournai-Ath-Mouscron7+1
Charleroi11
Thuin3–1
Mons6–1
Soignies4
LiègeHuy-Waremme4
Liège14
Verviers5–1
LuxembourgArlon-Marche-Bastogne3
Neufchâteau-Virton2–1
NamurNamur5
Dinant-Philippeville3–1
Total212

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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