1857 Belgian general election

1857 Belgian general election

10 December 1857 (1857-12-10)
All 108 seats in the Chamber of Representatives 55 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Charles Rogier Pierre de Decker Party Liberal Catholic Last election 45 seats 63 seats Seats won 70 38 Seat change 25 25 Popular vote 39,280 32,503 Percentage 54.72% 45.28%
Government before election de Decker Catholic-Liberal Government after election Rogier II Liberal

General elections were held in Belgium on 10 December 1857, the first full general elections since 1848. The elections were called by royal order of 12 November 1857, dissolving the Chamber of Representatives that had convened in a new session only two days earlier.

Going into the elections, Liberals held a majority in the Senate and the Catholics in the Chamber of Representatives. The unionist (Catholic–liberal) De Decker government resigned and a liberal government led by Charles Rogier took over shortly before the elections were called.

In the elections for the Chamber of Representatives the result was a victory for the Liberal Party, which won 70 of the 108 seats. The Liberal Party now had a majority in both chambers of parliament.

Voter turnout was 79%, although only 90,543 men (2% of the country's population) were eligible to vote.

Campaign

Twelve of the 108 seats were uncontested, of which the Liberals won three and the Catholics nine.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	/–
	Liberal Party	39,280	54.72	70	25
	Catholics	32,503	45.28	38	–25
Total		71,783	100.00	108	0
Total votes		71,783	–
Registered voters/turnout		90,543	79.28
Source: Mackie & Rose, Sternberger et al.