1939 Belgian general election explained

Country:

Belgium

Previous Election:

1936

Next Election:

1946

Election Date:

2 April 1939

Module:

Embed:

yes

Election Name:

Chamber of Representatives

Seats For Election:

All 202 seats in the Chamber of Representatives

Percentage1:

32.71

Seats1:

Last Election1:

Party2:

Belgian Labour Party

Percentage2:

30.19

Seats2:

Last Election2:

Party4:

Liberal Party (Belgium)

Percentage4:

17.19

Seats4:

Last Election4:

Party5:

Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond

Percentage5:

8.28

Seats5:

Last Election5:

Party6:

Communist Party of Belgium

Leader6:

Collective leadership

Percentage6:

5.36

Seats6:

Last Election6:

Party7:

Rexist Party

Percentage7:

4.44

Seats7:

Last Election7:

Seats8:

Last Election8:

new

Color8:

808080

Party9:

Veterans

Seats9:

Last Election9:

new

Color9:

AAAA00

Module:

Embed:	yes
Election Name:	Senate
Seats For Election:	All 101 seats in the Senate
Party1:	Catholic Party (Belgium)
Percentage1:	30.71
Seats1:	35
Last Election1:	34
Party11:	Belgian Labour Party
Percentage11:	30.64
Seats11:	35
Last Election11:	39
Party12:	Liberal Party (Belgium)
Percentage12:	17.57
Seats12:	16
Last Election12:	11
Party13:	Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond
Percentage13:	7.76
Seats13:	8
Last Election13:	5
Party14:	Communist Party of Belgium
Leader14:	Collective leadership
Percentage14:	5.04
Seats14:	3
Last Election14:	4
Party15:	Rexist Party
Percentage15:	4.13
Seats15:	1
Last Election15:	8
Percentage16:	2.75
Seats16:	3
Last Election16:	new
Color16:	DF8110
Government
Posttitle:	Government after election
Before Election:	Spaak I
Before Party:	National Unity (Lab–Catholic–Lib)
After Election:	Pierlot I
After Party:	Catholic–Lab

General elections were held in Belgium on 2 April 1939.^[1] The result was a victory for the Catholic Party, which won 67 of the 202 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. Voter turnout was 93.3%.^[2]

On 22 February 1939, the Pierlot Government succeeded the Spaak Government. The Spaak Government was in a political crisis caused by, among other things, the Martens Affair. As the Pierlot Government fell as well and the ministers failed to form a stable government, King Leopold III insisted on a dissolution of parliament, but the council of ministers refused due to fear of electoral losses. It was not Prime Minister Pierlot, but the Minister of the Interior who provided the required French: contresignant of the royal order of 6 March 1939 which dissolved the Chambers and triggered the snap elections.

After the election, Pierlot continued as Prime Minister. The elections were the last before World War II.

Results

Senate

Notes and References

[Dieter Nohlen]
Nohlen & Stöver, p290