Belgian general election, 1961

26 March 1961

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives

Kingdom of Belgium

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General elections were held in Belgium on 26 March 1961.^[1] The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 96 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 47 of the 106 seats in the Senate.^[2] Voter turnout was 92.3%.^[3] Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.

Prior to the elections, the centre-right government of the Christian Social and Liberal Party led by Gaston Eyskens pushed through austerity measures with a law known as the Eenheidswet or Loi Unique, despite heavy strikes in the preceding weeks, especially in Wallonia. After the elections, the Christian Democrats formed a new government with the Socialist Party instead of the Liberal Party, with Théo Lefèvre as Prime Minister.

Results

Chamber of Deputies

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Christian Social Party	2,182,642	41.46	96	–8
Belgian Socialist Party	1,933,424	36.72	84	–4
Liberal Party	649,376	12.33	20	0
People's Union	182,407	3.46	5	+4
Communist Party of Belgium	162,238	3.08	5	+3
National Rally	42,450	0.81	1	New
Independent Party	33,174	0.63	0	New
National Union of Independents	12,252	0.23	0	New
National Party	4,375	0.08	0	New
Liberal Dissidents	3,956	0.08	0	New
Walloon Unity	3,466	0.07	0	New
Alleenstaande	3,101	0.06	0	New
Zelfstandig	2,307	0.04	0	New
Francophone Bloc	1,824	0.03	0	New
Gekavemus	604	0.01	0	New
Independent Workers	551	0.01	0	New
Universal People	480	0.01	0	New
EC Group	154	0.00	0	New
Independents	46,244	0.88	1	–
Invalid/blank votes	308,815	–	–	–
Total	5,573,840	100	212	0
Registered voters/turnout	6,036,165	92.34	–	–
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Christian Social Party	2,200,323	42.12	47	–6
Belgian Socialist Party	1,924,605	36.84	45	+5
Liberal Party	637,922	12.20	11	+1
Communist Party of Belgium	163,576	3.13	1	0
People's Union	159,096	3.05	2	+2
National Movement	26,211	0.65	0	New
Independent Party	21,421	0.41	0	New
National Union of Independents	21,421	0.41	0	New
Liberal Dissidents	7,711	0.15	0	New
National Rally	5,425	0.10	0	New
National Party	4,457	0.09	0	New
Walloon Unity	3,478	0.07	0	New
Francophone Bloc	1,947	0.04	0	New
Independents	36,646	0.70	0	0
Invalid/blank votes	349,475	–	–	–
Total	5,573,982	100	106	0
Registered voters/turnout	6,036,165	92.34	–	–
Source: Belgian Elections

References

↑ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p289 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
↑ Nohlen & Stöver, pp309-311
↑ Nohlen & Stöver, p291

Elections and referendums in Belgium (list)
General/federal elections	1830 1831 1833 1835 1837 1839 1841 1843 1845 1847 1848 1850 1851 1852 1854 1855 1856 1857 1859 1861 1863 1864 1866 1867 1868 1870 (Jun) 1870 (Aug) 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1919 1921 1925 1929 1932 1936 1939 1946 1949 1950 1954 1958 1961 1965 1968 1971 1974 1977 1978 1981 1985 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2010 2014 Next
Regional elections	1974 1977 1978 1981 1986 1989 1990 1995 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019
Provincial elections	1949 1950 1954 1958 1961 1965 1968 1971 1974 1977 1978 1981 1985 1987 1991 1994 2000 2006 2012 2018
Municipal elections	1976 1982 1988 1994 2000 2006 2012 2018
European elections	1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019
Referendums	1950

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