Belgian general election, 1898

Belgian general election, 1898
Belgium
22 May 1898
75 of the 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
Paul de Smet de Naeyer, re-elected representative for Ghent and incumbent head of government

Partial legislative elections were held in Belgium on 22 May 1898, with run-off elections held on 29 May.[1] Under the alternating system, elections for the Chamber of Representatives were held in only four out of the nine provinces: Hainaut, Limburg, Liège and East Flanders. Thus, only 75 seats out of the 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives were up for election. The Catholic Party retained their absolute majority.[2]

Notably, Adolf Daens, who was elected in 1894 for Aalst and served one term, was convinced not to run for re-election. His fight for a social Christian Democratic party was opposed by conservative Catholics, especially fellow Aalst MP Charles Woeste. None of the other "Daensists" (Christene Volkspartij) who ran were elected.

A special election in Bastogne was held on 24 July 1898. Henry Delvaux de Fenffe (d) was elected to replace Emile Van Hoorde (d), who became provincial senator.

They were the last regular legislative elections under a majority system; the next elections in 1900 saw the introduction of a proportional system.

The newly elected legislature met in regular session on 8 November 1898.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Catholic Party377,27538.5112+1
Belgian Labour Party213,51121.827–1
Liberal Party177,80218.1130
Christene Volkspartij22,9622.300
Liberal-Socialist Cartels91,9479.400
Other parties96,6509.900
Invalid/blank votes8,975
Total989,1121001520
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Senate

Party Votes % Seats
Catholic Party147,16051.5
Liberal Party134,43747.0
Other parties4,2021.5
Invalid/blank votes
Total285,799100
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Constituencies

Province Arrondissement Chamber Won by
Limburg Hasselt 3 Catholic hold (unopposed re-election)
Maaseik 1 Catholic hold
Tongeren 2 Catholic hold
East Flanders Aalst 4 Catholic hold
Oudenaarde 3 Catholic hold
Gent 9 Catholic hold
Eeklo 1 Catholic hold (unopposed re-election)
Dendermonde 3 Catholic hold
Sint-Niklaas 4 Catholic hold
Hainaut Tournai 4 Catholic hold
Ath 2 Liberal gain from Catholic
Charleroi 8 Socialist hold
Thuin 3 Socialist gain (from 1 Catholic, 1 liberal and 1 socialist)
Mons 6 Socialist hold
Soignies 3 Socialist hold
Liège Huy 2 1 liberal hold, 1 socialist gain from liberal
Waremme 2 Catholic hold
Liège 11 Socialist (6) and liberal (5) hold
Verviers 4 Catholic gain from socialist

Liberals gained two seats from Catholics in Ath, socialists gained a seat from Catholics and a seat from liberals in Thuin, socialists gained a seat from liberals in Huy and Catholics gained four seats from socialists in Verviers, resulting in a total of one seat changing from socialists to Catholics.

References

  1. Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (31 May 2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft. p. 289. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7.
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p307
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