The elections followed several major reforms: they were the first held under universal male suffrage for those over the age of 25.[2] This followed the abolition of tax qualifications, and increased the number of voters tenfold.[2]Voting was also made compulsory. Provincial senators were introduced in addition to the existing directly elected ones.
The electoral reforms were implemented in 1893 under the Catholic government led by Auguste Beernaert, who had been in power for nearly ten years, but who resigned because his proposal for proportional representation was rejected. A government led by Jules de Burlet took over in March 1894.
The result was a victory for the Catholic Party, which won all seats in every Flemish arrondissement, in Brussels and in seven rural Walloon arrondissements, giving a total of 104 of the 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives.[3] The Belgian Labour Party gained parliamentary representation for the first time, winning all seats of Mons, Soignies, Charleroi, Verviers, 6 seats in Liège and one in Namur. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party, despite receiving more votes than the socialists, won only 20 seats and thus lost two-thirds of its seats.[4] This was caused by the concentration of socialists in industrial Walloon areas, compared to the dispersed presence of liberal voters throughout the country. This highlighted the need for a proportional system, which would eventually be introduced in 1899.
76 senators (half the number of representatives) were directly elected and 26 senators were chosen by the provincial councils, giving a total of 102 senators.
The distribution of seats among the electoral districts was as follows for the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate.[5] There were no changes in districts and seat distribution compared to the previous election, except for the introduction of provincial senators.
^List of members of the Chamber of Representatives (1894-1895)
December 20, 2023
1894, belgian, general, election, full, general, elections, were, held, belgium, october, 1894, with, elections, held, october, 1894, 1892, october, 1894, 1894, 1896, seats, chamber, representatives77, seats, needed, majority, first, party, second, party, lead. Full general elections were held in Belgium on 14 October 1894 1 with run off elections held on 21 October 1894 1894 Belgian general election 1892 14 October 1894 1894 10 14 1896 All 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives77 seats needed for a majority First party Second party Leader Jules de Burlet Gregoire SerwyParty Catholic LabourLeader since Candidate for PM 1893Seats before 92 seats 0 seatsSeats won 102 27Seat change 10 27Popular vote 926 987 301 940Percentage 56 38 18 36 Third party Fourth party Leader N AParty Liberal LSKLeader since N ASeats before 60 seats NewSeats won 17 4Seat change 43 NewPopular vote 515 808 32 914Percentage 31 37 2 00 Government before electionde BurletCatholic Government after election de BurletCatholicThe elections followed several major reforms they were the first held under universal male suffrage for those over the age of 25 2 This followed the abolition of tax qualifications and increased the number of voters tenfold 2 Voting was also made compulsory Provincial senators were introduced in addition to the existing directly elected ones The electoral reforms were implemented in 1893 under the Catholic government led by Auguste Beernaert who had been in power for nearly ten years but who resigned because his proposal for proportional representation was rejected A government led by Jules de Burlet took over in March 1894 The result was a victory for the Catholic Party which won all seats in every Flemish arrondissement in Brussels and in seven rural Walloon arrondissements giving a total of 104 of the 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives 3 The Belgian Labour Party gained parliamentary representation for the first time winning all seats of Mons Soignies Charleroi Verviers 6 seats in Liege and one in Namur Meanwhile the Liberal Party despite receiving more votes than the socialists won only 20 seats and thus lost two thirds of its seats 4 This was caused by the concentration of socialists in industrial Walloon areas compared to the dispersed presence of liberal voters throughout the country This highlighted the need for a proportional system which would eventually be introduced in 1899 Contents 1 Results 1 1 Chamber of Representatives 1 2 Senate 2 Constituencies 3 ReferencesResults editChamber of Representatives edit nbsp PartyVotes Seats Catholic Party926 98750 05102 10Liberal Party515 80827 8517 43Belgian Labour Party301 94016 3027 27Liberal Socialist kartels32 9141 784NewChristene Volkspartij26 2241 421 1Other parties48 3542 611 1Total1 852 227100 001520Valid votes1 644 20496 00Invalid blank votes68 4634 00Total votes1 712 667100 00Registered voters turnout2 085 60582 12Source Belgian ElectionsSenate edit 76 senators half the number of representatives were directly elected and 26 senators were chosen by the provincial councils giving a total of 102 senators PartyVotes Catholic Party597 18452 48Liberal Party495 28843 53Liberal Party Socialist cartels28 8122 53Belgian Labour Party16 5351 45Total1 137 819100 00Registered voters turnout1 148 433 Source Nohlen amp StoverConstituencies editThe distribution of seats among the electoral districts was as follows for the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate 5 There were no changes in districts and seat distribution compared to the previous election except for the introduction of provincial senators Province Arrondissement Chamber Won by Senate Won byAntwerp Antwerp 11 Catholics 5 CatholicsMechelen 4 Catholics 2 CatholicsTurnhout 3 Catholics 2 CatholicsElected by the provincial council 3 CatholicsLimburg Hasselt 3 Catholics 1 CatholicsMaaseik 1 Catholics 1 CatholicsTongeren 2 Catholics 1 CatholicsElected by the provincial council 2 CatholicsEast Flanders Aalst 4 Catholics 2 CatholicsOudenaarde 3 Catholics 1 CatholicsGent 9 Catholics 4 CatholicsEeklo 1 Catholics 1 CatholicsDendermonde 3 Catholics 2 CatholicsSint Niklaas 4 Catholics 2 CatholicsElected by the provincial council 3 CatholicsWest Flanders Bruges 3 Catholics 2 CatholicsRoeselare 2 Catholics 1 CatholicsTielt 2 Catholics 1 CatholicsKortrijk 4 Catholics 2 CatholicsYpres 3 Catholics 1 CatholicsVeurne 1 Catholics 1 CatholicsDiksmuide 1 CatholicsOstend 2 Catholics 1 CatholicsElected by the provincial council 3 CatholicsBrabant Leuven 6 Catholics 3 CatholicsBrussels 18 Catholics 9 CatholicsNivelles 4 Liberals 3 Catholics 1 2 LiberalsElected by the provincial council 4 CatholicsHainaut Tournai 4 Catholics 2 CatholicsAth 2 Catholics 1 CatholicsCharleroi 8 Socialists 4 LiberalsThuin 3 Liberals 1 LiberalsMons 6 Socialists 3 LiberalsSoignies 3 Socialists 2 LiberalsElected by the provincial council 4 Liberals 2 Socialists 2 Liege Huy 2 Liberals 1 LiberalsWaremme 2 Catholics 1 LiberalsLiege 11 Socialists 6 Liberals 5 5 LiberalsVerviers 4 Socialists 2 Liberals 1 Catholics 1 Elected by the provincial council 3 LiberalsLuxembourg Arlon 1 Liberals 1 LiberalsVirton 1 LiberalsMarche 1 Catholics 1 CatholicsBastogne 1 CatholicsNeufchateau 1 Catholics 1 CatholicsElected by the provincial council 2 CatholicsNamur Namur 4 Liberals 3 Socialists 1 2 LiberalsDinant 2 Catholics 1 CatholicsPhilippeville 2 Liberals 1 LiberalsElected by the provincial council 2 Catholics152 76 26References edit Nohlen Dieter Stover Philip 31 May 2010 Elections in Europe A data handbook Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft p 289 ISBN 978 3 8329 5609 7 a b Nohlen amp Stover p272 Nohlen amp Stover p307 Nohlen amp Stover p273 List of members of the Chamber of Representatives 1894 1895 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1894 Belgian general election amp oldid 1179677617, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
