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

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party2,182,64241.4696–8
Belgian Socialist Party1,933,42436.7284+4
Liberal Party649,37612.33200
People's Union182,4073.465+4
Communist Party of Belgium162,2383.085+3
National Rally42,4500.811New
Independent Party33,1740.630New
National Union of Independents12,2520.230New
National Party4,3750.080New
Liberal dissidents3,9560.080New
Walloon Unity3,4660.070New
Alleenstaande3,1010.060New
Zelfstandig2,3070.040New
Francophone Bloc1,8240.030New
Gekavemus6040.010New
Independent Workers5510.010New
Universal People4800.010New
EC Group1540.000New
Independents46,2440.881+1
Total5,265,025100.002120
Valid votes5,265,02594.46
Invalid/blank votes308,8155.54
Total votes5,573,840100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,036,16592.34
Source: Belgian Elections[4]

Senate

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian Social Party2,200,32342.1247–6
Belgian Socialist Party1,924,60536.8445+5
Liberal Party637,92212.2111+1
Communist Party of Belgium163,5763.1310
People's Union159,0963.052+2
National Movement26,2110.500New
Independent Party21,4210.410New
National Union of Independents13,2840.250New
Liberal dissidents7,7110.150New
National Rally5,4250.100New
National Party4,4570.090New
Walloon Unity3,4780.070New
Francophone Bloc1,9470.040New
Other parties18,4050.350
Independents36,6460.7000
Total5,224,507100.001060
Valid votes5,224,50793.73
Invalid/blank votes349,4756.27
Total votes5,573,982100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,036,16592.34
Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Belgian Elections[5]

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
  4. ^ https://wahlergebnisse.belgium.be/de/election-results/abgeordnetenkammer/1961/k%C3%B6nigreich/157384
  5. ^ https://wahlergebnisse.belgium.be/de/election-results/senat/1961/k%C3%B6nigreich/161238
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