1950 Belgian monarchy referendum
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Are you of the opinion that King Leopold III should resume the exercise of his constitutional powers? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Belgium portal |
A referendum on allowing King Leopold III's return to Belgium, and restoration of his powers and duties as monarch was held in Belgium on 12 March 1950. The proposal was approved by 57.68% of voters.[1]
Background
King Leopold went into exile in June 1944, when
The Catholics, who generally supported the King's return, won a majority in the
Socialist Leader Paul-Henri Spaak opposed holding a referendum. He foresaw that the vote for Leopold might fall between 55% and 65%, giving no decisive mandate for the king's return, and that the King would carry Flanders and lose Wallonia. In that case, said Spaak, "the government would not only have on its hands the King's abdication or return, it would also have to appease the anger, acerbity and rancor of Flanders or Wallonia."[2]
Results
The question voters were asked was:
- Dutch: "Zijt U de mening toegedaan dat Koning Leopold III de uitoefening van zijn grondwettelijke machten zou hernemen?"
- French: "Êtes-vous d'avis que le Roi Leopold III reprenne l'exercice de ses pouvoirs constitutionnels ?"
- Translation: "Are you of the opinion that King Leopold III should resume the exercise of his constitutional powers?"
A majority voted in favour of Leopold's return. In Flanders, 72% voted in favour. In Wallonia, 58% voted against. In Brussels, 52% voted against.[3]
Choice | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|
For | 2,933,382 | 57.68 | |
Against | 2,151,881 | 42.32 | |
Total | 5,085,263 | 100.00 | |
Valid votes | 5,085,263 | 97.11 | |
Invalid/blank votes | 151,477 | 2.89 | |
Total votes | 5,236,740 | 100.00 | |
Registered voters/turnout | 5,635,452 | 92.92 | |
Source: Direct Democracy |
By arrondissement
Arrondissement | Province | Total votes |
Invalid/ blank |
For | Against | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Votes | % | ||||
Antwerpen | Antwerp | 484,936 | 12,236 | 297,863 | 63.0 | 174,837 | 37.0 |
Mechelen | Antwerp | 156,099 | 3,905 | 106,450 | 69.9 | 45,744 | 30.1 |
Turnhout | Antwerp | 134,684 | 3,678 | 110,576 | 84.4 | 20,430 | 15.6 |
Brussels | Brabant | 832,087 | 26,773 | 387,914 | 48.2 | 417,400 | 51.8 |
Leuven | Brabant | 197,540 | 7,530 | 125,944 | 66.3 | 64,066 | 33.7 |
Nivelles | Brabant | 119,686 | 3,097 | 43,777 | 37.5 | 72,812 | 62.5 |
Brugge |
West Flanders | 119,573 | 3,677 | 83,623 | 72.2 | 32,273 | 27.8 |
Oostende |
West Flanders | 118,265 | 4,615 | 82,652 | 72.7 | 30,998 | 27.3 |
Roeselare-Tielt | West Flanders | 116,945 | 3,372 | 96,196 | 84.7 | 17,377 | 15.3 |
Kortrijk | West Flanders | 167,772 | 5,163 | 114,198 | 70.2 | 48,411 | 29.8 |
Ypres | West Flanders | 74,101 | 3,011 | 54,109 | 76.1 | 16,981 | 23.9 |
Gent-Eeklo |
East Flanders | 328,298 | 9,792 | 224,874 | 70.6 | 93,632 | 29.4 |
Sint-Niklaas | East Flanders | 111,048 | 1,833 | 84,955 | 77.8 | 24,260 | 22.2 |
Dendermonde | East Flanders | 97,756 | 2,150 | 72,223 | 75.5 | 23,383 | 24.5 |
Aalst | East Flanders | 145,994 | 2,924 | 100,130 | 70.0 | 42,940 | 30.0 |
Oudenaarde | East Flanders | 73,500 | 2,371 | 47,607 | 66.9 | 23,522 | 33.1 |
Mons | Hainaut | 162,250 | 4,467 | 49,243 | 31.2 | 108,540 | 68.8 |
Soignies | Hainaut | 103,952 | 2,565 | 34,875 | 34.4 | 66,512 | 65.6 |
Charleroi | Hainaut | 268,375 | 7,209 | 86,003 | 32.9 | 175,163 | 67.1 |
Thuin | Hainaut | 82,540 | 2,294 | 34,529 | 43.0 | 45,717 | 57.0 |
Tournai-Ath | Hainaut | 147,992 | 4,056 | 62,661 | 43.5 | 81,275 | 56.5 |
Liège | Liège | 353,598 | 10,095 | 119,161 | 34.7 | 224,342 | 65.3 |
Huy-Waremme | Liège | 109,286 | 3,132 | 44,445 | 41.9 | 61,709 | 58.1 |
Verviers | Liège | 141,253 | 4,998 | 81,238 | 59.6 | 55,017 | 40.4 |
Hasselt | Limburg | 109,472 | 3,513 | 87,241 | 82.3 | 18,718 | 17.7 |
Tongeren-Maaseik | Limburg | 124,333 | 3,616 | 101,783 | 84.3 | 18,934 | 15.7 |
Arlon-Marche-Bastogne | Luxembourg | 72,526 | 2,078 | 46,296 | 65.7 | 24,152 | 34.3 |
Neufchâteau-Virton | Luxembourg | 59,223 | 1,595 | 37,443 | 65.0 | 20,185 | 35.0 |
Namur | Namur | 135,600 | 3,495 | 64,112 | 48.5 | 67,993 | 51.5 |
Dinant-Philippeville | Namur | 88,056 | 2,237 | 51,261 | 59.7 | 34,558 | 40.3 |
Flanders (four Flemish provinces plus Leuven)[4] | 2,560,316 | 73,386 | 1,790,424 | 71.0 | 696,506 | 28.0 | |
Wallonia (four Walloon provinces plus Nivelles)[5] | 1,844,337 | 51,318 | 755,044 | 42.1 | 1,037,975 | 57.9 | |
Total | 5,236,740 | 151,477 | 2,933,382 | 57.7 | 2,151,881 | 42.3 | |
Source: Theunissen,[6] Senate[7] |
*The majority in the arrondissement of Verviers voted in favour of the King's return. **The arrondissement of Namur voted against the return.
Aftermath
References
- ^ Belgium, 12 March 1950: Return of King Leopold III Direct Democracy (in German)
- ^ "Belgium up in the air", Time, Monday, 20 March 1950
- ^ Maps of the referendum's results Institut Destrée et Université de Liège Archived February 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- Halle-Vilvoordewhich was then part of the arrondissement of Brussels
- Walloon Region
- ISBN 90-289-0892-7and La Revue Nouvelle, 15 avril 1950, pp. 379-385.
- ^ Communication of the Minister of the Interior on the referendum, Senate, 13 March 1950