1971 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 7 November 1971.[1] The result was a victory for the Christian People's Party, which won 40 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 34 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 91.5%.[2] Elections to the nine provincial councils were also held.

1971 Belgian general election

← 1968 7 November 1971 1974 →

All 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Jos Van Eynde [nl]
Edmond Leburton
Gaston Eyskens Pierre Descamps
Party Socialist CVP PVV-PLP
Last election 27.10%, 59 seats 20.87%, 47 seats
Seats won 57 40 34
Seat change Decrease 2 New Decrease 13
Popular vote 1,335,730 967,701 865,655
Percentage 25.29% 18.32% 16.39%
Swing Decrease 1.81pp New Decrease 4.48pp

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Frans Van der Elst Robert J. Houben
Party VU PSC
Last election 9.79%, 20 seats
Seats won 21 15
Seat change Increase 1 New
Popular vote 586,917 327,393
Percentage 11.11% 6.20%
Swing Increase 1.32pp New

Results by constituency for the Chamber of Representatives

Government before election

G. Eyskens V
CVP-PSC-BSP/PSB

Government after election

G. Eyskens V
CVP-PSC-BSP/PSB

The linguistic issues led to the splitting of the major parties into separate Flemish and Francophone parties. Consequently the election returned a very fragmented parliament.

The election followed the first state reform, with the creation of three cultural communities. The newly elected members of parliament would thus also serve in the newly established cultural councils.

Results

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Chamber of Representatives

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Belgian Socialist Party1,335,73025.2957–2
Christian People's Party967,70118.3240New
Party for Freedom and Progress865,65516.3934–13
People's Union586,91711.1121+1
Christian Social Party327,3936.2015New
Walloon Rally306,6065.8112+6
PSCCVP292,1015.5312−57
FDFWalloon Rally286,6395.4312New
Communist Party161,5173.0650
Red Lions104,0401.974+4
Independent Liberal Party21,9190.420New
Independent Christians7,8010.150New
Liberal Flemish People's Party2,7400.050New
Trotskyists2,6600.0500
Kaganovemus2,5800.050New
Van Meerhage2,0040.040New
Z Kleur1,5470.0300
Democratic and Progressive Union1,5340.030New
Francophone Party1,4710.030New
New Party8990.020New
U Verbruik6400.010New
Dieferenbes6330.0100
De Keyzer5650.010New
R D Wal3390.010New
Total5,281,631100.002120
Valid votes5,281,63191.99
Invalid/blank votes459,6378.01
Total votes5,741,268100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,271,24091.55
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
CVPPSC1,547,85329.7034+5
Belgian Socialist Party1,326,24225.4524–9
Party for Freedom and Progress776,51414.9015−7
FDFWalloon Rally598,76811.496+1
People's Union592,50911.3712+3
Communist Party of Belgium106,7992.051−1
BSPRed Lions97,3711.870New
Liberal Democrat and Pluralist Party81,1331.562New
Democratic and Progressive Union61,6161.180New
Independent Liberal Party15,1380.290New
Kaganovemus3,8000.0700
Liberal Flemish People's Party3,1590.060New
Valentyn5130.010New
Total5,211,415100.00940
Valid votes5,211,41592.62
Invalid/blank votes415,2467.38
Total votes5,626,661100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,271,24089.72
Source: Belgian Elections

References

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  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p289 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p291