1898 Belgian general election

Partial legislative elections were held in Belgium on 22 May 1898, with run-off elections held on 29 May.^[1] Under the alternating system, elections for the Chamber of Representatives were held in only four out of the nine provinces: Hainaut, Limburg, Liège and East Flanders. Thus, only 75 seats out of the 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives were up for election. The Catholic Party retained their absolute majority.^[2]

1898 Belgian general election

← 1896 22 May 1898 1900 →
75 of the 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
First party Second party   Leader Paul de Smet de Naeyer Grégoire Serwy Party Catholic Labour Seats won 36 15 Popular vote 377,275 213,511 Percentage 38.49% 21.78%   Third party Fourth party   Leader N/A Party Liberal Liberal–Socialist Seats won 12 8 Popular vote 177,802 91,947 Percentage 18.14% 9.38%
Government before election de Smet de Naeyer I Catholic Government after election de Smet de Naeyer I Catholic

Paul de Smet de Naeyer, the re-elected representative for Ghent and incumbent head of government

Notably, Adolf Daens, who was elected in 1894 for Aalst and served one term, was convinced not to run for re-election. His fight for a social Christian Democratic party was opposed by conservative Catholics, especially fellow Aalst MP Charles Woeste. None of the other "Daensists" (Christene Volkspartij) who ran were elected.

A special election in Bastogne was held on 24 July 1898. Henry Delvaux de Fenffe was elected to replace Emile Van Hoorde, who became a provincial senator.

They were the last regular legislative elections under a majority system; the next elections in 1900 saw the introduction of a proportional system.

The newly elected legislature met in regular session on 8 November 1898.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

Party		Votes	%	Seats
				Won
	Catholic Party	377,275	38.49	36
	Belgian Labour Party	213,511	21.78	15
	Liberal Party	177,802	18.14	12
	Liberal–Socialist kartels	91,947	9.38	8
	Christene Volkspartij	22,962	2.34	1
	Left kartels	17,724	1.81	1
	Dissident Catholics	15,804	1.61	0
	Other parties	63,122	6.44	2
Total		980,147	100.00	75
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Party		Votes	%
	Catholic Party	147,160	51.49
	Liberal Party	134,437	47.04
	Other parties	4,202	1.47
Total		285,799	100.00
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Constituencies

Province	Arrondissement	Chamber	Won by
Limburg	Hasselt	3	Catholic hold (unopposed re-election)
	Maaseik	1	Catholic hold
	Tongeren	2	Catholic hold
East Flanders	Aalst	4	Catholic hold
	Oudenaarde	3	Catholic hold
	Gent	9	Catholic hold
	Eeklo	1	Catholic hold (unopposed re-election)
	Dendermonde	3	Catholic hold
	Sint-Niklaas	4	Catholic hold
Hainaut	Tournai	4	Catholic hold
	Ath	2	Liberal gain from Catholic
	Charleroi	8	Socialist hold
	Thuin	3	Socialist gain (from 1 Catholic, 1 liberal and 1 socialist)
	Mons	6	Socialist hold
	Soignies	3	Socialist hold
Liège	Huy	2	1 liberal hold, 1 socialist gain from liberal
	Waremme	2	Catholic hold
	Liège	11	Socialist (6) and liberal (5) hold
	Verviers	4	Catholic gain from socialist

Liberals gained two seats from Catholics in Ath, socialists gained a seat from Catholics and a seat from liberals in Thuin, socialists gained a seat from liberals in Huy and Catholics gained four seats from socialists in Verviers, resulting in a total of one seat changing from socialists to Catholics.

References

1. Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (31 May 2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft. p. 289. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7.
2. Nohlen & Stöver, p307