1954 Belgian general election First party Second party Third party Leader Jean Van Houtte Achille Van Acker Henri Liebaert Party Christian Social Socialist Liberal Leader since Candidate for PM Candidate for PM 1953 Last election 108 seats, 47.68% 73 seats, 34.51% 20 seats, 11.25% Seats won 95 82 24 Seat change 13 9 4 Popular vote 2,123,408 1,927,015 626,983 Percentage 41.15% 37.34% 12.15% Swing 6.53% 2.83% 0.90% Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party Leader N/A Edgard Lalmand Walter Couvreur Party LSK PVDA-PTB CVV Leader since N/A 1943 1954 Last election 4 seats, 1.77% 7 seats, 4.75% New Seats won 5 4 1 Seat change 1 3 New Popular vote 108,175 184,108 113,632 Percentage 2.10% 3.57% 2.20% Swing 0.33% 1.18% New
Chamber seat distribution by constituency
General elections were held in Belgium on 11 April 1954.[ 1] The dominant Christian Social Party won 95 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 49 of the 106 seats in the Senate .[ 2] Voter turnout was 93.2%.[ 3] Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.
The outgoing Catholic government led by Jean Van Houtte lost their majority in parliament. The two other main parties, the Socialist and Liberal Party, subsequently formed a rare "purple" government with Achille Van Acker as Prime Minister. Both parties had an anti-clerical agenda and aimed to reverse policies of the Catholic government regarding private schools. This would become known as the Second School War .
Chamber of Deputies [ edit ] Party Votes % Seats +/– Christian Social Party 2,123,408 41.14 95 –13 Belgian Socialist Party 1,927,015 37.34 82 +9 Liberal Party 626,983 12.15 24 +4 Communist Party of Belgium 184,108 3.57 4 –3 Christian Flemish People's Union 113,632 2.20 1 New Liberal–Socialist Kartels 108,175 2.10 5 +1 Christian Social Rally of Liberty 42,979 0.83 1 New Radio Antwerp 10,177 0.20 0 New Middle Class 9,729 0.19 0 New Universal People 3,139 0.06 0 New Veteran Combatants 1,839 0.04 0 New Van Wonterghem 1,817 0.04 0 New Liberal dissidents1,807 0.04 0 New Independent Social Party 1,613 0.03 0 New Hubert List 1,143 0.02 0 New Camus List 1,001 0.02 0 New Independent Union 884 0.02 0 New European Movement 581 0.01 0 New Flemish Bloc 456 0.01 0 New Mediator 191 0.00 0 New Independents 246 0.00 0 0 Total 5,160,923 100.00 212 0 Valid votes 5,160,923 94.46 Invalid/blank votes 302,668 5.54 Total votes 5,463,591 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 5,863,092 93.19 Source: Belgian Elections
Party Votes % Seats +/– Christian Social Party 2,127,699 41.63 49 –5 Belgian Socialist Party 1,915,213 37.48 42 +5 Liberal Party 620,979 12.15 11 +1 Communist Party of Belgium 181,843 3.56 2 –1 Liberal–Socialist Kartels 108,966 2.13 2 0 Christian Flemish People's Union 155,758 3.05 0 New People's Union 0 New Christian Social Rally of Liberty 0 New Other parties 0 – Total 5,110,458 100.00 106 0 Registered voters/turnout 5,863,092 – Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Belgian Elections