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

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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.