1978 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 17 December 1978.[1] The Christian People's Party emerged as the largest party, with 57 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 29 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 94.8%.[2] Elections were also held for the nine provincial councils and for the Council of the German Cultural Community.

1978 Belgian general election

← 1977 17 December 1978 1981 →

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
  First party Second party Third party
 
Paul_Vanden_Boeynants_1966.jpg
Andre_Cools.jpg
Karel_van_Miert_(SP,_Belgi%C3%AB),_Bestanddeelnr_933-5684.jpg
Leader Paul Vanden Boeynants André Cools Karel Van Miert
Party CVP PS sp.a
Leader since Candidate for PM 1978 1978
Last election 56 seats, 26.20% New New
Seats won 57 31 26
Seat change Increase 1 New New
Popular vote 1,447,112 689,876 684,976
Percentage 26.14% 12.46% 12.37%
Swing Decrease 0.06% New New

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb in 2011.jpg
Ministers_Belgische_Kabinet._Vice_Eerste_Minister_W._de_Clerq_(PVV),_Bestanddeelnr_918-9461.jpg
PRLW
Leader Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb Willy De Clercq André Damseaux
Party cdH Open Vld PRLW
Leader since 1977 1977 1973
Last election 24 seats, 7.29% 17 seats, 8.54% 16 seats, 3.34%
Seats won 25 22 15
Seat change Increase 1 Increase 5 Decrease 1
Popular vote 560,440 573,387 256,685
Percentage 10.12% 10.36% 4.64%
Swing Increase 2.83% Increase 1.82% Increase 1.30%

Seat distribution by constituency for the Chamber of Deputies.

Government before election

Tindemans II
CVP-PSC-BSP/PSB-VU-FDF

Government after election

Vanden Boeynants II
CVP-PSC-PS-BSP-VU-FDF

The snap elections were called after Prime Minister Leo Tindemans resigned over the Egmont pact, which would have transformed Belgium into a federal state. Vlaams Blok participated for the first time, which was formed out of disagreement within the People's Union over concessions in the Egmont pact.

Results

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Chamber of Representatives

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The primary six Flemish political parties and their results for the House of Representatives (Kamer). From 1978 to 2014, in percentages for the complete 'Kingdom'.
 
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian People's Party1,447,11226.1457+1
Belgian Socialist Party (Wallonia)689,87612.4631+31
Belgian Socialist Party (Flanders)684,97612.3726–1
Party for Freedom and Progress573,38710.3622+5
Christian Social Party560,44010.1225+1
People's Union388,7627.0214–6
Democratic Front of the Francophones259,0194.68110
Party of Reforms and Freedom of Wallonia256,6854.6415–1
Communist Party of Belgium180,2343.264+4
Walloon Rally128,1532.3240
Vlaams Blok75,6351.371New
Democratic Union for the Respect of Labour48,6160.881+1
All Power to the Workers43,4830.790New
Liberal Party (Wallonia)41,4600.750New
PRLWParty for Reforms and Freedom31,2800.5700
Belgian Socialist Party (Luxembourg)30,2220.551New
Ecolo21,2240.3800
Walloon Liberal Party9,8610.180New
Party of German-speaking Belgians9,0320.1600
ECOLOG8,3600.1500
Revolutionary Workers' League (Flanders)6,3830.1200
Walloon Rally (Luxembourg)6,4930.120New
Agalev5,5560.1000
Ecology–Politics3,9220.070New
Liberal, Social and Democratic Party3,6780.070New
Belgian National Party3,4650.060New
Revolutionary Workers' League (Wallonia)2,5970.0500
Francophone Liberal Party2,3130.040New
Belgian Progressive Party2,1230.040New
Democratic and Progressive Union1,8430.0300
Green1,7610.030New
United Feminist Party1,6860.0300
Progressive Front–Ecologists1,5120.030New
Kaganovemus1,3760.0200
Party for Free Communication and Environmental Protection9930.020New
Party of New Forces7290.010New
Liberal Party6980.010New
PDE3750.010New
PDRT3110.010New
Total5,535,631100.002120
Valid votes5,535,63191.61
Invalid/blank votes507,0588.39
Total votes6,042,689100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,366,65594.91
Source: Belgian Elections, Global Elections Database

Senate

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Christian People's Party1,420,77725.9329+1
Belgian Socialist Party (Wallonia)685,30712.5117–2
Belgian Socialist Party (Flanders)678,77612.3913+1
Party for Freedom and Progress572,53510.4511+2
Christian Social Party535,9399.7812+1
People's Union384,5627.027–3
Party of Reforms and Freedom of Wallonia-PL330,1556.036-1
Democratic Front of the Francophones266,7134.877New
Communist Party of Belgium182,7113.3310
Walloon Rally123,7942.2620
Vlaams Blok80,8091.470New
Democratic Union for the Respect of Labour51,5710.940New
All Power to the Workers44,3790.810New
Ecolo43,8830.8000
Belgian Socialist Party (Luxembourg)30,8370.561New
Party of German-speaking Belgians11,1480.2000
Walloon Liberal Party11,0810.200New
Walloon Rally (Luxembourg)6,6590.120New
Revolutionary Workers' League3,7440.070New
Liberal, Social and Democratic Party3,2390.060New
Belgian Progressive Party2,8040.050New
Francophone Liberal Party2,6400.050New
Democratic and Progressive Union2,2210.0400
United Feminist Party2,0450.0400
Revolutionary Communist Party9170.020New
Total5,479,246100.001060
Valid votes5,479,24690.65
Invalid/blank votes565,2999.35
Total votes6,044,545100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,366,65594.94
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