Election Name: | 1950 Belgian general election |
Country: | Belgium |
Type: | parliamentary |
Ongoing: | no |
Previous Election: | 1949 Belgian general election |
Previous Year: | 1949 |
Next Election: | 1954 Belgian general election |
Next Year: | 1954 |
Seats For Election: | 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives |
Election Date: | 4 June 1950 |
Leader1: | Jean Duvieusart |
Leader Since1: | Candidate for PM |
Party1: | Christian Social Party (Belgium, defunct) |
Last Election1: | 105 seats, 43.55% |
Seats1: | 108 |
Seat Change1: | 3 |
Popular Vote1: | 2,356,608 |
Percentage1: | 47.68% |
Swing1: | 4.13% |
Leader2: | Max Buset |
Leader Since2: | 1945 |
Party2: | Belgian Socialist Party |
Last Election2: | 66 seats, 29.76% |
Seats2: | 73 |
Seat Change2: | 7 |
Popular Vote2: | 1,705,781 |
Percentage2: | 34.51% |
Swing2: | 4.76% |
Leader3: | Roger Motz |
Leader Since3: | 1945 |
Party3: | Liberal Party (Belgium) |
Last Election3: | 29 seats, 15.25% |
Seats3: | 20 |
Seat Change3: | 9 |
Popular Vote3: | 556,102 |
Percentage3: | 11.25% |
Swing3: | 4.00% |
Leader4: | Edgard Lalmand |
Leader Since4: | 1943 |
Party4: | Communist |
Last Election4: | 12 seats, 7.49% |
Seats4: | 7 |
Seat Change4: | 5 |
Popular Vote4: | 234,541 |
Percentage4: | 4.75% |
Swing4: | 2.74% |
Leader5: | N/A |
Leader Since5: | N/A |
Party5: | LSK |
Last Election5: | New |
Seats5: | 4 |
Seat Change5: | New |
Popular Vote5: | 87,252 |
Percentage5: | 1.77% |
Swing5: | New |
Color5: | 800080 |
Government | |
Posttitle: | Government after election |
Before Election: | G. Eyskens I |
Before Party: | CVP/PSC-Lib |
After Election: | Duvieusart |
After Party: | Christian Social Party (Belgium, defunct) |
General elections were held in Belgium on 4 June 1950.[1] The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 108 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 54 of the 106 seats in the Senate.[2] Voter turnout was 92.6%.[3] This election was the last one in Belgian history where a single party achieved an absolute majority. Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.
The elections took place a few months after the divisive referendum on returning King Leopold III from exile and restoring his monarchial duties (the Royal Question). Following the election, a single-party Catholic government was formed with Jean Duvieusart as Prime Minister, who oversaw the return of King Leopold III, but who was quickly succeeded by Joseph Pholien as Prime Minister, following strikes and protests due to Leopold's return, which ultimately led to his abdication.