1902 Belgian general election explained

Country:Belgium
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:1900 Belgian general election
Previous Year:1900
Next Election:1904 Belgian general election
Next Year:1904
Seats For Election:85 of the 162 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
Election Date:25 May 1902
Image1:Paul_de_Smet_de_Naeyer.jpg
Leader1:Paul de Smet de Naeyer
Party1:Catholic Party (Belgium)
Seats1:54
Popular Vote1:596,382
Percentage1:56.00%
Party2:Liberal Party (Belgium)
Seats2:20
Popular Vote2:266,891
Percentage2:25.06%
Image3:3x4.svg
Leader3:August De Winne
Party3:Belgian Labour Party
Seats3:10
Popular Vote3:159,370
Percentage3:14.97%
Government
Posttitle:Government after election
Before Election:de Smet de Naeyer II
Before Party:Catholic Party (Belgium)
After Election:de Smet de Naeyer II
After Party:Catholic Party (Belgium)

Partial general elections were held in Belgium on 25 May 1902.[1] The result was a victory for the Catholic Party, which won 54 of the 85 seats up for election in the Chamber of Representatives.[2] Voter turnout was 95.7%.[3]

Under the alternating system, elections were only held in five out of the nine provinces: Antwerp, Brabant, Luxembourg, Namur and West Flanders. In addition to the regular elections for these 85 seats, elections were held for one seat (6 in total) in Ghent-Eeklo, Aalst, Soignies, Charleroi, Liège and Verviers because the number of representatives increased for these electoral arrondissements following the population census.

A month earlier, a general strike was held, aimed at forcing electoral reform and notably the end of the system of plural voting. However, it was unsuccessful. The Catholic Party, being against reform, even strengthened its majority in the elections.

Constituencies

The distribution of seats among the electoral districts was as follows.[4] Several arrondissements got one or more additional seats, following the population census.

Province Arrondissement(s) Seats Change
13 +2
4
3
3
3
5 +1
3
11 +1
3
4
4 +1
4
5 +1
3
4
6
21 +3
4
6
9 +1
3
6
3 +1
4
12 +1
5 +1
3
2
5
4
Total 166 +14

Notes and References

  1. Book: Dieter Nohlen

    . Elections in Europe: A data handbook . Nohlen . Dieter . Dieter Nohlen . Stöver . Philip . 31 May 2010 . Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft . 289 . 978-3-8329-5609-7.

  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p308
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p295
  4. http://www.dekamer.be/digidoc/DPS/K3023/K30230048/K30230048.PDF List of members of the Chamber of Representatives (1920-1921)