1978 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 17 December 1978.[1] The Christian People's Party emerged as the largest party, with 57 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 29 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 94.8%.[2] Elections were also held for the nine provincial councils and for the Council of the German Cultural Community.

1978 Belgian general election

17 December 1978
212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
First party Second party Third party   Leader Paul Vanden Boeynants André Cools Karel Van Miert Party CVP PS SP Leader since Candidate for PM 1978 1978 Last election 56 seats, 26.20% New New Seats won 57 31 26 Seat change 1 New New Popular vote 1,447,112 689,876 684,976 Percentage 26.14% 12.46% 12.37% Swing 0.06% New New   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb Willy De Clercq André Damseaux Party PSC PVV PRL Leader since 1977 1977 1973 Last election 24 seats, 7.29% 17 seats, 8.54% 16 seats, 3.34% Seats won 25 22 15 Seat change 1 5 1 Popular vote 560,440 573,387 256,685 Percentage 10.12% 10.36% 4.64% Swing 2.83% 1.82% 1.30%
Colours denote the winning party in each electoral district (for the Chamber of Deputies).
Government before election Tindemans II CVP-PSC-BSP/PSB-VU-FDF Elected Government Vanden Boeynants II CVP-PSC-PS-BSP-VU-FDF

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The snap elections were called after Prime Minister Leo Tindemans resigned over the Egmont pact, which would have transformed Belgium into a federal state. Vlaams Blok participated for the first time, which was formed out of disagreement within the People's Union over concessions in the Egmont pact.