1985 Belgian general election

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1985 Belgian general election

← 1981 13 October 1985 1987 →

212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
  First party Second party Third party
 
Wilfried_Martens_1982_(cropped).jpg
PS
Karel_van_Miert_(SP,_Belgi%C3%AB),_Bestanddeelnr_933-5684.jpg
Leader Wilfried Martens Guy Spitaels Karel Van Miert
Party
CVP
PS
sp.a
Leader since Candidate for PM 1981 1978
Last election 43 seats, 19.34% 35 seats, 12.17% 26 seats, 12.36%
Seats won 49 35 32
Seat change Increase 6 Steady Increase 6
Popular vote 1,291,244 834,488 882,200
Percentage 21.29% 13.76% 14.55%
Swing Increase 1.95% Increase 1.59% Increase 2.19%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Louis_Michel.jpg
Verhofstadt cropped.jpg
Gerard_DEPREZ_(16039228164).jpg
Leader Louis Michel Guy Verhofstadt Gérard Deprez
Party PRL
Open Vld
cdH
Leader since 1982 1982 1981
Last election 24 seats, 7.97% 28 seats, 12.89% 18 seats, 6.49%
Seats won 24 22 20
Seat change Steady Decrease 6 Increase 2
Popular vote 619,390 651,806 482,254
Percentage 10.21% 10.75% 7.95%
Swing Increase 2.24% Decrease 2.14% Increase 1.50%


Government
before election

Martens V

PSC-PVV-PRL

Government after election

Martens VI

PSC-PVV-PRL

Prime Minister Martens

General elections were held in

Christian People's Party emerged as the largest party, with 49 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 25 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Elections to the nine provincial
councils were also held.

The incumbent government was a coalition of Christian democrats (CVP/PSC) and liberals (PVV/PRL) led by Prime Minister Wilfried Martens. Following the elections, the same parties formed a new Martens Government. Guy Verhofstadt, PVV leader since 1982, was elected for the first time as representative. Despite PVV being the only governing party to lose seats, he was able to weigh on the government agreement and he became Deputy Prime Minister in the Martens VI Government. The government would fall two years later due to the Voeren issue; distrust of labour unions in Verhofstadt proved to be a factor as well.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

National Front
3,7380.060New
Christian Liberal Party3,4420.060New
Parti Communautaire National-Européen1,7630.030New
Zo Maar1,6300.030New
United Feminist Party1,2010.0200
Union of Progressive Walloons8280.010New
Flemish People's Party6780.010New
Charlier6550.010New
GIOT6400.010New
Humanist Party5180.010New
Appeal to All4640.010New
SDU–USD4120.010New
Total6,064,260100.002120
Valid votes6,064,26092.55
Invalid/blank votes487,9747.45
Total votes6,552,234100.00
Registered voters/turnout7,001,29793.59
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

National Front
4,2010.070New
Christian Liberal Party3,2670.050New
United Feminist Party1,4300.0200
Parti Communautaire National-Européen1,3120.020New
Flemish People's Party4460.010New
Paix4430.0100
Total5,994,431100.001060
Valid votes5,994,43191.48
Invalid/blank votes558,2598.52
Total votes6,552,690100.00
Registered voters/turnout7,001,29793.59
Source: Belgian Elections

References