1932 Belgian general election

27 November 1932

All 187 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
All 93 seats in the Senate
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Charles de Broqueville Joseph Van Roosbroeck Albert Devèze
Party Catholic Labour Liberal
Leader since Candidate for PM 1918 1927
Last election 71 seats, 35.38% 70 seats, 36.02% 28 seats, 16.55%
Seats won 79 73 24
Seat change Increase 8 Increase 3 Decrease 4
Popular vote 856,027 824,946 313,722
Percentage 38.42% 37.03% 14.08%
Swing Increase 3.04% Increase 1.01% Decrease 2.47%

Government before election

de Broqueville II
Catholic-Liberal

Government after election

de Broqueville II
Catholic-Liberal

General elections were held in Belgium on 27 November 1932.[1] The Catholic Party won 79 of the 187 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 42 of the 93 seats in the Senate.[2] Voter turnout was 94.3%.[3]

Background

Prime Minister de Broqueville

The elections occurred during an economic crisis, the Great Depression. The Catholic-Liberal government led by Jules Renkin faced rising unemployment, derailing public finances and strikes benefiting the Communist Party. Parliamentary elections were due in May 1933 at the latest. On 18 October 1932, Prime Minister Renkin resigned under pressure from King Albert I, allowing the more experienced Charles de Broqueville to take charge. He immediately dissolved parliament and scheduled parliamentary elections for 27 November 1932.

Municipal elections had also occurred on 9 October 1932, where the Catholic Party lost ground to socialists and liberals. To avoid losses during the parliamentary elections, de Broqueville used the issue of education in the election campaign, which was a major issue under his previous 1911–1918 government.

His strategy worked; the Catholics won, but also the socialists and communists gained ground, whereas the liberals lost seats. The socialists refused to enter government, and the Catholic-Liberal coalition continued their government and proceeded to take drastic measures for economic recovery.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Catholic Party856,02738.4279+8
Belgian Labour Party824,94637.0373+3
Liberal Party313,72214.0824–4
Frontpartij126,1135.668–3
Communist Party of Belgium64,5522.903+2
Belgian National Party12,9770.580New
Christian People's Party7,7010.3500
Catholic dissidents4,6640.210New
Frontpartij dissidents4,6420.210New
Farmers4,2940.190New
Taxpayers Bloc2,5110.110New
Socialist dissidents1,8310.080New
Independent socialists8380.040New
French Defence Party7890.040New
Radical Socialists5900.0300
Radical Party–Radical Socialists3800.020New
National Radical Party–Radical Party2480.010New
Independent Communists2110.010New
Isolated Unemployed2060.010New
Farmers and Business1840.010New
General Interests1720.010New
Public Salvation Committee1480.010New
Stroobants1300.010New
Total2,227,876100.001870
Valid votes2,227,87698.30
Invalid/blank votes38,6001.70
Total votes2,266,476100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,555,74388.68
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Catholic Party893,29039.0542+4
Belgian Labour Party860,05337.6039+3
Liberal Party339,12714.8311-2
Frontpartij119,7405.231–2
Communist Party of Belgium54,9022.4000
Christian People's Party5,9610.2600
Belgian National Party4,3340.190New
Farmers2,1940.100New
Frontpartij dissidents2,1620.090New
Socialist dissidents2,0430.090New
Taxpayers Bloc1,1030.050New
French Defence Party8810.040New
National Cartel8750.040New
Radical Socialists5260.0200
National Radical Party–Radical Socialists1770.010New
Total2,287,368100.00930
Valid votes2,287,36895.61
Invalid/blank votes105,1054.39
Total votes2,392,473100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,555,74393.61
Source: Belgian Elections

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, p308
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p290
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