Elections to the temporary National Congress were held in Belgium on 3 November 1830, following the declaration of independence from the Netherlands.[1] The elections were held using a modified form of the Dutch system, as defined by the Orders of the Provisional Government of 10 October and 12 October 1830. 200 members were elected by plurality in constituencies of varying sizes, and suffrage was restricted to taxpaying men over the age of 25, with a higher tax threshold in urban areas than rural ones.[1] Although clergy and academics were exempt from the restrictions, only around 1% of the country's population was eligible to vote.[1]
Electoral system
editThe order of 12 October 1830 distributed the 200 seats among the 44 administrative districts of the nine Belgian provinces. Along with these deputies, an equal number of substitutes were elected in each district.
| Province | District | Deputies |
|---|---|---|
| Antwerp (18) | Antwerp | 8 |
| Mechelen | 5 | |
| Turnhout | 5 | |
| Limburg (17) | Hasselt | 5 |
| Maastricht | 7 | |
| Roermond | 5 | |
| East Flanders (35) | Aalst | 6 |
| Oudenaarde | 5 | |
| Gent | 12 | |
| Eeklo | 2 | |
| Dendermonde | 4 | |
| Sint-Niklaas | 6 | |
| West Flanders (28) | Bruges | 5 |
| Roeselare | 3 | |
| Tielt | 3 | |
| Kortrijk | 7 | |
| Ypres | 4 | |
| Veurne | 2 | |
| Diksmuide | 2 | |
| Ostend | 2 | |
| Brabant (27) | Leuven | 7 |
| Brussels | 14 | |
| Nivelles | 6 | |
| Hainaut (30) | Tournai | 8 |
| Ath | 4 | |
| Charleroi | 5 | |
| Thuin | 3 | |
| Mons | 6 | |
| Soignies | 4 | |
| Liège (19) | Huy | 3 |
| Waremme | 2 | |
| Liège | 9 | |
| Verviers | 5 | |
| Luxembourg (16) | Arlon | 2 |
| Luxembourg | 3 | |
| Diekirch | 2 | |
| Grevenmacher | 2 | |
| Marche | 2 | |
| Bastogne | 1 | |
| Neufchâteau | 2 | |
| Virton | 2 | |
| Namur (10) | Namur | 5 |
| Dinant | 3 | |
| Philippeville | 2 | |
| Total | 200 | |
Aftermath
editThe Constitution adopted in February 1831 instituted a bicameral parliament, the first elections for which were held a year later.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p282 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7