The Belgian Democratic Union (Union Démocratique Belge, Belgische Democratische Unie or UDB) was a short-lived political party in Belgium after the Second World War.
Belgian Democratic Union
French: Union Démocratique Belge Dutch: Belgische Democratische Unie
The UDB was one of two post-war parties founded in Belgium appealing to Christian thought, the other being the Christian Social Party (PSC-CVP), heir to the prewar Catholic Party. The UDB's main founders were Pierre Clerdent and Antoine Delfosse and the party essentially originated in the French-speaking Christian workers' movement, being unable to gain major supporters from among the Flemish Christian workers' movement.
The UDB was essentially a "labourist" (travailliste) party (which would now be placed on the centre-left) and was much keener on secularisation (déconfessionnalisation) and progress (progressisme) than the PSC-CVP, wishing to bring those of all philosophical and religious persuasions under one flag. It had ambitions to be a nationwide party, but was mainly restricted to Wallonia and the French-speakers in Brussels, making it short on influence in the capital's political circles. Its leaders came from the Belgian resistance and the other parties hoped that the UDB and CVP would compete against and weaken each other by splitting the Christian vote. When the PSC-CVP refused to participate in the second government of Achiel Van Acker (2 August 1945 - 9 January 1946), two UDB members of parliament joined it - Marcel Gregoire for Justice and Jacques Basyn for Defence. Franz De Voghel (with UDB sympathies) was minister of finance.
Falledit
UDB hopes were high at the general elections on 17 February 1946, but these were disappointed, with the party only gaining 51,095 votes (mainly in Brussels) and only managed to elect one person to the Chamber of Representatives (Paul M. G. Lévy for the arrondissement of Nijvel, though he resigned after only a few weeks and replaced by Werner Marchand). It was clear that the party had several leaders but no members. In 1946 it had 2,637 members - 380 in Flanders, 904 in Brabant (Brussels) and 1353 in Wallonia. This marked its end.
Some of its leaders went over to the CVP, including Pierre Clerdent (governor of Luxembourg and Liège and later a liberal senator), Alfred Califice (frequently a minister for the CVP) and Antoine Delfosse (for whom this meant a switch back to the CVP). Lévy, Max Bastin and Jacques Basyn became independents.
Further readingedit
Willame, Jean-Claude (1976). "L'Union démocratique belge (U.D.B.). Essai de création "travailliste"". Courrier Hebdomadaire du CRISP (37-8 (n. 743-744)): 1–43. doi:10.3917/cris.743.0001.
(in Dutch) Wilfried BEERTEN, Ontstaan en ontwikkeling van een politieke beweging: Union démocratique belge, Leuven, 1983
(in French) Wilfried BEERTEN, Le rêve travailliste en Belgique : histoire de l'U.D.B., 1944-1947, translated into Dutch by Maurice Galderoux, Brussel, 1990.
(in French) David LEVAUX, Liège et l'Union Démocratique Belge, graduate thesis, Liège, 2001.
Beerten, Wilfried (1999). "L'Union Démocratique Belge, une expérience avortée". In Coenen, Marie-Thérèse; Govaert, Serge (eds.). Le Rassemblement des Progressistes, 1944-1976 (in French). Brussels: De Boeck Université. ISBN2-8041-3208-0.
External linksedit
Union Démocratique Belge at Belgium-WWII (Cegesoma)
December 16, 2023
belgian, democratic, union, union, démocratique, belge, belgische, democratische, unie, short, lived, political, party, belgium, after, second, world, french, union, démocratique, belgedutch, belgische, democratische, unieleadersmax, bastin, pierre, clerdentfo. The Belgian Democratic Union Union Democratique Belge Belgische Democratische Unie or UDB was a short lived political party in Belgium after the Second World War Belgian Democratic Union French Union Democratique BelgeDutch Belgische Democratische UnieLeadersMax Bastin Pierre ClerdentFounded1945Dissolved1946Split fromCatholic PartyMerged intoBelgian Socialist PartyHeadquartersBrusselsIdeologySocial democracyChristian democracyChristian leftBelgian unionismPolitical positionCentre leftColours FucsiaPolitics of BelgiumPolitical partiesElections Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation 1 2 Fall 2 Further reading 3 External linksHistory editFormation edit The UDB was one of two post war parties founded in Belgium appealing to Christian thought the other being the Christian Social Party PSC CVP heir to the prewar Catholic Party The UDB s main founders were Pierre Clerdent and Antoine Delfosse and the party essentially originated in the French speaking Christian workers movement being unable to gain major supporters from among the Flemish Christian workers movement The UDB was essentially a labourist travailliste party which would now be placed on the centre left and was much keener on secularisation deconfessionnalisation and progress progressisme than the PSC CVP wishing to bring those of all philosophical and religious persuasions under one flag It had ambitions to be a nationwide party but was mainly restricted to Wallonia and the French speakers in Brussels making it short on influence in the capital s political circles Its leaders came from the Belgian resistance and the other parties hoped that the UDB and CVP would compete against and weaken each other by splitting the Christian vote When the PSC CVP refused to participate in the second government of Achiel Van Acker 2 August 1945 9 January 1946 two UDB members of parliament joined it Marcel Gregoire for Justice and Jacques Basyn for Defence Franz De Voghel with UDB sympathies was minister of finance Fall edit UDB hopes were high at the general elections on 17 February 1946 but these were disappointed with the party only gaining 51 095 votes mainly in Brussels and only managed to elect one person to the Chamber of Representatives Paul M G Levy for the arrondissement of Nijvel though he resigned after only a few weeks and replaced by Werner Marchand It was clear that the party had several leaders but no members In 1946 it had 2 637 members 380 in Flanders 904 in Brabant Brussels and 1353 in Wallonia This marked its end Some of its leaders went over to the CVP including Pierre Clerdent governor of Luxembourg and Liege and later a liberal senator Alfred Califice frequently a minister for the CVP and Antoine Delfosse for whom this meant a switch back to the CVP Levy Max Bastin and Jacques Basyn became independents Further reading editWillame Jean Claude 1976 L Union democratique belge U D B Essai de creation travailliste Courrier Hebdomadaire du CRISP 37 8 n 743 744 1 43 doi 10 3917 cris 743 0001 in Dutch Wilfried BEERTEN Ontstaan en ontwikkeling van een politieke beweging Union democratique belge Leuven 1983 in French Wilfried BEERTEN Le reve travailliste en Belgique histoire de l U D B 1944 1947 translated into Dutch by Maurice Galderoux Brussel 1990 in French David LEVAUX Liege et l Union Democratique Belge graduate thesis Liege 2001 Beerten Wilfried 1999 L Union Democratique Belge une experience avortee In Coenen Marie Therese Govaert Serge eds Le Rassemblement des Progressistes 1944 1976 in French Brussels De Boeck Universite ISBN 2 8041 3208 0 External links editUnion Democratique Belge at Belgium WWII Cegesoma Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Belgian Democratic Union amp oldid 1104051272, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
