1874 Belgian general election

1874 Belgian general election

9 June 1874 (1874-06-09)
61 of the 124 seats in the Chamber of Representatives 63 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt Walthère Frère-Orban Party Catholic Liberal Leader since Candidate for PM Candidate for PM Seats before 71 seats 53 seats Seats won 26 35 Seats after 68 56 Seat change 3 3 Popular vote 15,864 17,531 Percentage 47.50% 52.50%
Government before election de Theux de Meylandt III Catholic Government after election de Theux de Meylandt III Catholic

Partial general elections were held in Belgium on 9 June 1874. The result was a victory for the Catholic Party, which won 68 of the 124 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 34 of the 62 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 64.1%, although only 52,074 people were eligible to vote.

Under the alternating system, elections for the Chamber of Representatives were only held in four out of the nine provinces: Hainaut, Limburg, Liège and East Flanders.

Incumbent Head of Government Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt was re-elected in the arrondissement of Hasselt but died on 21 August 1874. A special election was held on 27 September 1874 to replace him, which Henri de Pitteurs-Hiegaerts won.

Additionally, a special election was held in the arrondissement of Tielt to replace Gustave de Mûelenaere, who died on 8 July 1874; this is of note as future Prime Minister Auguste Beernaert was elected to succeed him.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

Party		Votes	%	Seats
				Won	Total	+/–
	Liberal Party	17,531	52.50	35	56	+3
	Catholic Party	15,864	47.50	26	68	–3
Total		33,395	100.00	61	124	0
Total votes		33,395	–
Registered voters/turnout		52,074	64.13
Source: Mackie & Rose, Sternberger et al.

Senate

Party		Seats
	Catholic Party	34
	Liberal Party	28
Total		62
Source: Sternberger et al.