Full general elections were held in Belgium on 14 October 1894, with run-off elections held on 21 October 1894.
The elections followed several major reforms: they were the first held under universal male suffrage for those over the age of 25.Nohlen & Stöver, p272 This followed the abolition of tax qualifications, and increased the number of voters tenfold. 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.Nohlen & Stöver, p307 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.Nohlen & Stöver, p273 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.
Results Chamber of Representatives
Senate 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.
Constituencies The distribution of seats among the electoral districts was as follows for the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate.List of members of the Chamber of Representatives (1894-1895) 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 by Antwerp Antwerp 11 Catholics 5 Catholics Mechelen 4 Catholics 2 Catholics Turnhout 3 Catholics 2 Catholics Elected by the provincial council 3 Catholics Limburg Hasselt 3 Catholics 1 Catholics Maaseik 1 Catholics 1 Catholics Tongeren 2 Catholics 1 Catholics Elected by the provincial council 2 Catholics East Flanders Aalst 4 Catholics 2 Catholics Oudenaarde 3 Catholics 1 Catholics Gent 9 Catholics 4 Catholics Eeklo 1 Catholics 1 Catholics Dendermonde 3 Catholics 2 Catholics Sint-Niklaas 4 Catholics 2 Catholics Elected by the provincial council 3 Catholics West Flanders Bruges 3 Catholics 2 Catholics Roeselare 2 Catholics 1 Catholics Tielt 2 Catholics 1 Catholics Kortrijk 4 Catholics 2 Catholics Ypres 3 Catholics 1 Catholics Veurne 1 Catholics 1 Catholics Diksmuide 1 Catholics Ostend 2 Catholics 1 Catholics Elected by the provincial council 3 Catholics Brabant Leuven 6 Catholics 3 Catholics Brussels 18 Catholics 9 Catholics Nivelles 4 Liberals (3), Catholics (1) 2 Liberals Elected by the provincial council 4 Catholics Hainaut Tournai 4 Catholics 2 Catholics Ath 2 Catholics 1 Catholics Charleroi 8 Socialists 4 Liberals Thuin 3 Liberals 1 Liberals Mons 6 Socialists 3 Liberals Soignies 3 Socialists 2 Liberals Elected by the provincial council 4 Liberals (2), Socialists (2) Liège Huy 2 Liberals 1 Liberals Waremme 2 Catholics 1 Liberals Liège 11 Socialists (6), Liberals (5) 5 Liberals Verviers 4 Socialists 2 Liberals (1), Catholics (1) Elected by the provincial council 3 Liberals Luxembourg Arlon 1 Liberals 1 Liberals Virton 1 Liberals Marche 1 Catholics 1 Catholics Bastogne 1 Catholics Neufchâteau 1 Catholics 1 Catholics Elected by the provincial council 2 Catholics Namur Namur 4 Liberals (3), Socialists (1) 2 Liberals Dinant 2 Catholics 1 Catholics Philippeville 2 Liberals 1 Liberals Elected by the provincial council 2 Catholics 152 76+26
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