1864 Belgian general election explained

Election Name:1864 Belgian general election
Country:Belgium
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:1863 Belgian general election
Previous Year:1863
Next Election:1866 Belgian general election
Next Year:1866
Seats For Election:All 116 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
Majority Seats:57
Leader1:Charles Rogier
Leader Since1:Candidate for PM
Party1:Liberal Party (Belgium)
Seats Before1:59 seats
Seats1:64
Seat Change1: 5
Popular Vote1:39,576
Percentage1:49.74%
Party2:Catholic
Seats Before2:57 seats
Seats2:52
Seat Change2: 5
Popular Vote2:39,750
Percentage2:49.96%
Color2:FFFF00
Government
Posttitle:Government after election
Before Election:Rogier II
Before Party:Liberal Party (Belgium)
After Election:Rogier II
After Party:Liberal Party (Belgium)

General elections were held in Belgium on 11 August 1864,[1] [2] the first full general elections since 1857. The snap elections were called upon the loss of a parliamentary majority for the liberal government of Charles Rogier and a hung parliament, following the death of liberal representative Charles Cumont on 10 July 1864. In the last few parliamentary sessions preceding the elections, all Catholic members quit the Chamber, resulting in it not being quorate.[3] The Chamber was disbanded by order of 16 July.

Although the Catholics received the most votes for seats in the Chamber of Representatives, the result was a victory for the Liberal Party, which won 64 of the 116 seats.[2] Liberals gained three seats in Bruges, one seat in Charleroi, two seats in Ghent, one seat in Namur and one seat in Soignies. Catholics gained one seat in Aalst, one seat in Tongeren and one seat in Waremme. This returned a parliamentary majority for the Liberals.

Voter turnout was 76.7%, although only 103,717 people (2.1% of the population) were eligible to vote.[2]

Results

Chamber of Representatives

Notes and References

  1. Codebook Constituency-level Elections Archive, 2003
  2. Sternberger, D, Vogel, B & Nohlen, D (1969) Die Wahl der Parlamente: Band I: Europa - Erster Halbband, p105
  3. https://www3.dekamer.be/digidocanha/K0007/K00071847/K00071847.PDF Parliamentary proceedings of 9 and 12 July 1864