| Belgian Socialist Party | |
| Native Name: | French: Parti socialiste belge Dutch; Flemish: Belgische Socialistische Partij |
| Leader1 Title: | President |
| Leader1 Name: | Achille Van Acker (first) André Cools (last) |
| Leader2 Title: | Founder |
| Leader2 Name: | Paul-Henri Spaak |
| Foundation: | May 1945 |
| Dissolved: | October 1978 |
| Predecessor: | Belgian Labour Party |
| Successor: | Socialist Party (Flemish) Socialist Party (Francophone) |
| Headquarters: | Brussels, Belgium |
| Wing1 Title: | Trade union wing |
| Wing1: | General Federation of Belgian Labour |
| Ideology: | Social democracy Democratic socialism |
| Position: | Centre-left |
| International: | Socialist International |
| European: | Confederation of the Socialist Parties |
| Colours: | Red |
| Country: | Belgium |
The Belgian Socialist Party (French: Parti Socialiste belge, PSB; Dutch; Flemish: Belgische Socialistische Partij, BSP) was a social-democratic political party which existed in Belgium from 1945 to 1978. During its time in office, a number of progressive social reforms were introduced.[1]
The BSP was founded by activists from the Belgian Labour Party (1885–1940), which was the first Belgian socialist party. It ceased to function during the Second World War, while Belgium was under Nazi occupation. Its main support bases were the co-operative and trade union movements, and it won relatively more support in Wallonia. Like most Belgian political organisations, the party supported greater integration with the European Economic Community, albeit in a socialist context.[2]
As linguistic and community issues became more divisive, the Belgian Socialist Party split into two new entities: the Flemish Socialist Party for the Flemish community and the Parti Socialiste (PS) for the Francophone community.
| Presidents BSP/PSB[3] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period | President | ||||||||
| 1942–1945 | Achille Van Acker | ||||||||
| 1945–1959 | Max Buset | ||||||||
| 1959–1971 | Leo Collard | ||||||||
| Co-Presidents (from 1971)[4] | |||||||||
| Period | Dutch speaking co-President | French speaking co-President | |||||||
| 1971–1973 | Edmond Leburton | ||||||||
| 1973–1975 | André Cools | ||||||||
| 1975–1977 | Willy Claes | André Cools | |||||||
| 1977–1978 | Karel Van Miert | André Cools | |||||||
| Votes | Seats | Change | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percentage | |||
| 1946 | 746,738 | 31.57% | ||
| 1949 | 1,496,539 | 29.76% | 3 | |
| 1950 | 1,705,781 | 34.51% | 7 | |
| 1954 | 1,927,015 | 37.34% | 9 | |
| 1958 | 1,897,646 | 35.79% | 2 | |
| 1961 | 1,933,424 | 36.72% | 4 | |
| 1965 | 1,403,107 | 28.28% | 20 | |
| 1968 | 1,403,107 | 27.10% | 5 | |
| 1971 | 549,483623,395 1,172,878 | 10.40%11.80% 22,20% | 9 | |
| 1974 | 1,401,725 | 26.66% | 9 | |
| 1977 | 602,132725,513 1,327,645 | 10.80% 13.01% 23,81% | 2 | |