1971 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 7 November 1971. The result was a victory for the Christian People's Party, which won 40 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 34 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 91.5%. Elections to the nine provincial councils were also held.

1971 Belgian general election

7 November 1971
All 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
First party Second party Third party   Leader Jos Van Eynde Edmond Leburton Gaston Eyskens Pierre Descamps Party Socialist CVP PVV-PLP Last election 27.10%, 59 seats – 20.87%, 47 seats Seats won 57 40 34 Seat change 2 New 13 Popular vote 1,335,730 967,701 865,655 Percentage 25.29% 18.32% 16.39% Swing 1.81pp New 4.48pp   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Frans Van der Elst Robert J. Houben Party VU PSC Last election 9.79%, 20 seats – Seats won 21 15 Seat change 1 New Popular vote 586,917 327,393 Percentage 11.11% 6.20% Swing 1.32pp New
Results by constituency for the Chamber of Representatives
Government before election G. Eyskens V CVP-PSC-BSP/PSB Government after election G. Eyskens V CVP-PSC-BSP/PSB

The linguistic issues led to the splitting of the major parties into separate Flemish and Francophone parties. Consequently the election returned a very fragmented parliament.

The election followed the first state reform, with the creation of three cultural communities. The newly elected members of parliament would thus also serve in the newly established cultural councils.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Belgian Socialist Party	1,335,730	25.29	57	–2
	Christian People's Party	967,701	18.32	40	New
	Party for Freedom and Progress	865,655	16.39	34	–13
	People's Union	586,917	11.11	21	+1
	Christian Social Party	327,393	6.20	15	New
	Walloon Rally	306,606	5.81	12	+6
	PSC–CVP	292,101	5.53	12	−57
	FDF–Walloon Rally	286,639	5.43	12	New
	Communist Party	161,517	3.06	5	0
	Red Lions	104,040	1.97	4	+4
	Independent Liberal Party	21,919	0.42	0	New
	Independent Christians	7,801	0.15	0	New
	Liberal Flemish People's Party	2,740	0.05	0	New
	Trotskyists	2,660	0.05	0	0
	Kaganovemus	2,580	0.05	0	New
	Van Meerhage	2,004	0.04	0	New
	Z Kleur	1,547	0.03	0	0
	Democratic and Progressive Union	1,534	0.03	0	New
	Francophone Party	1,471	0.03	0	New
	New Party	899	0.02	0	New
	U Verbruik	640	0.01	0	New
	Dieferenbes	633	0.01	0	0
	De Keyzer	565	0.01	0	New
	R D Wal	339	0.01	0	New
Total		5,281,631	100.00	212	0
Valid votes		5,281,631	91.99
Invalid/blank votes		459,637	8.01
Total votes		5,741,268	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		6,271,240	91.55
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	CVP–PSC	1,547,853	29.70	34	+5
	Belgian Socialist Party	1,326,242	25.45	24	–9
	Party for Freedom and Progress	776,514	14.90	15	−7
	FDF–Walloon Rally	598,768	11.49	6	+1
	People's Union	592,509	11.37	12	+3
	Communist Party of Belgium	106,799	2.05	1	−1
	BSP–Red Lions	97,371	1.87	0	New
	Liberal Democrat and Pluralist Party	81,133	1.56	2	New
	Democratic and Progressive Union	61,616	1.18	0	New
	Independent Liberal Party	15,138	0.29	0	New
	Kaganovemus	3,800	0.07	0	0
	Liberal Flemish People's Party	3,159	0.06	0	New
	Valentyn	513	0.01	0	New
Total		5,211,415	100.00	94	0
Valid votes		5,211,415	92.62
Invalid/blank votes		415,246	7.38
Total votes		5,626,661	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		6,271,240	89.72
Source: Belgian Elections