1932 Belgian general election

27 November 1932
All 187 seats in the Chamber of Representatives All 93 seats in the Senate
First party Second party Third party   Leader Charles de Broqueville Joseph Van Roosbroeck Albert Devèze Party Catholic Labour Liberal Leader since Candidate for PM 1918 1927 Last election 71 seats, 35.38% 70 seats, 36.02% 28 seats, 16.55% Seats won 79 73 24 Seat change 8 3 4 Popular vote 856,027 824,946 313,722 Percentage 38.42% 37.03% 14.08% Swing 3.04% 1.01% 2.47%
Government before election de Broqueville II Catholic-Liberal Government after election de Broqueville II Catholic-Liberal

General elections were held in Belgium on 27 November 1932.^[1] The Catholic Party won 79 of the 187 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 42 of the 93 seats in the Senate.^[2] Voter turnout was 94.3%.^[3]

Background

Prime Minister de Broqueville

The elections occurred during an economic crisis, the Great Depression. The Catholic-Liberal government led by Jules Renkin faced rising unemployment, derailing public finances and strikes benefiting the Communist Party. Parliamentary elections were due in May 1933 at the latest. On 18 October 1932, Prime Minister Renkin resigned under pressure from King Albert I, allowing the more experienced Charles de Broqueville to take charge. He immediately dissolved parliament and scheduled parliamentary elections for 27 November 1932.

Municipal elections had also occurred on 9 October 1932, where the Catholic Party lost ground to socialists and liberals. To avoid losses during the parliamentary elections, de Broqueville used the issue of education in the election campaign, which was a major issue under his previous 1911–1918 government.

His strategy worked; the Catholics won, but also the socialists and communists gained ground, whereas the liberals lost seats. The socialists refused to enter government, and the Catholic-Liberal coalition continued their government and proceeded to take drastic measures for economic recovery.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Catholic Party	856,027	38.42	79	+8
	Belgian Labour Party	824,946	37.03	73	+3
	Liberal Party	313,722	14.08	24	–4
	Frontpartij	126,113	5.66	8	–3
	Communist Party of Belgium	64,552	2.90	3	+2
	Belgian National Party	12,977	0.58	0	New
	Christian People's Party	7,701	0.35	0	0
	Catholic dissidents	4,664	0.21	0	New
	Frontpartij dissidents	4,642	0.21	0	New
	Farmers	4,294	0.19	0	New
	Taxpayers Bloc	2,511	0.11	0	New
	Socialist dissidents	1,831	0.08	0	New
	Independent socialists	838	0.04	0	New
	French Defence Party	789	0.04	0	New
	Radical Socialists	590	0.03	0	0
	Radical Party–Radical Socialists	380	0.02	0	New
	National Radical Party–Radical Party	248	0.01	0	New
	Independent Communists	211	0.01	0	New
	Isolated Unemployed	206	0.01	0	New
	Farmers and Business	184	0.01	0	New
	General Interests	172	0.01	0	New
	Public Salvation Committee	148	0.01	0	New
	Stroobants	130	0.01	0	New
Total		2,227,876	100.00	187	0
Valid votes		2,227,876	98.30
Invalid/blank votes		38,600	1.70
Total votes		2,266,476	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		2,555,743	88.68
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Catholic Party	893,290	39.05	42	+4
	Belgian Labour Party	860,053	37.60	39	+3
	Liberal Party	339,127	14.83	11	-2
	Frontpartij	119,740	5.23	1	–2
	Communist Party of Belgium	54,902	2.40	0	0
	Christian People's Party	5,961	0.26	0	0
	Belgian National Party	4,334	0.19	0	New
	Farmers	2,194	0.10	0	New
	Frontpartij dissidents	2,162	0.09	0	New
	Socialist dissidents	2,043	0.09	0	New
	Taxpayers Bloc	1,103	0.05	0	New
	French Defence Party	881	0.04	0	New
	National Cartel	875	0.04	0	New
	Radical Socialists	526	0.02	0	0
	National Radical Party–Radical Socialists	177	0.01	0	New
Total		2,287,368	100.00	93	0
Valid votes		2,287,368	95.61
Invalid/blank votes		105,105	4.39
Total votes		2,392,473	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		2,555,743	93.61
Source: Belgian Elections

References