Christian Social Party (Belgium, 1945–1968)
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2010) |
Christian Social Party Christelijke Volkspartij Parti Social Chrétien | |
---|---|
Historical leaders | Jean Duvieusart (first) Jean-Charles Snoy et d'Oppuers (last) |
Founded | August 18, 1945 |
Dissolved | 1968 |
Preceded by | Catholic Party Catholic Flemish People's Party |
Succeeded by | Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams, Christian Social Party |
Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
Ideology | Christian democracy Pro-Europeanism |
Political position | Centre[1][2] |
European affiliation | Christian Democrat group |
International affiliation | Christian Democrat International |
Colours | Orange Black |
The Christian Social Party (French: Parti Social Chrétien, or PSC; Dutch: Christelijke Volkspartij, CVP) was a major centre-right political party in Belgium which existed from 1945 until 1968. Established as the successor to the pre-war Catholic Block, the new party was established with a "deconfessionalised" Christian Democrat orientation[3] but split along linguistic lines in 1968 into the Christian Social Party (Parti Social Chrétien) and Christian People's Party (Christelijke Volkspartij). As the largest party throughout much of the period of its existence, it participated in most of the country's coalition governments during its existence alongside the Belgian Socialist Party and Liberal Party and provided a number of influential prime ministers.
History
At the end of World War II, on 18–19 August 1945 the Parti Social Chrétien-Christelijke Volkspartij (CVP-PSC) was founded under the presidency of August de Schryver as the successor to the Catholic Party.
In 1968, the party divided along linguistic lines, forming the Francophone Christian Social Party (Parti Social Chrétien) in Wallonia and the Flemish Christian People's Party (Christelijke Volkspartij) in Flanders.[4][5]
Election results
Chamber of Representatives
Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Government |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1946 | 1,006,293 | 42.5 | 92 / 202
|
19 | 1st | Opposition |
1949 | 2,190,895 | 43.6 | 105 / 212
|
13 | 1st | Christian Social-Liberal coalition |
1950 | 2,356,608 | 47.7 | 108 / 212
|
3 | 1st | Majority government |
1954 | 2,123,408 | 41.2 | 95 / 212
|
13 | 1st | Opposition |
1958 | 2,465,549 | 46.5 | 104 / 212
|
9 | 1st | Minority government until November 1958, later Christian Social-Liberal coalition |
1961 | 2,182,642 | 41.5 | 96 / 212
|
8 | 1st | Christian Social-Socialist coalition |
1965 | 1,785,211 | 34.5 | 77 / 212
|
19 | 1st | Christian Social-Socialist coalition until March 1966, later Christian Social-Liberal coalition |
1968 | 1,643,785 | 31.8 | 69 / 212
|
8 | 1st | Christian Social-Socialist coalition |
Notable members
- Jean Duvieusart
- Gaston Eyskens
- Pierre Harmel
- Théo Lefèvre
- Joseph Pholien
- Paul Vanden Boeynants
- Jean Van Houtte
- Count Jean Charles Snoy et d'Oppuers
See also
Further reading
- Lamberts, Emiel (2004). Michael Gehler; Wolfram Kaiser (eds.). The Zenith of Christian Democracy: The Christelijke Volkspartij/Parti Social Chrétien in Belgium. Christian Democracy in Europe since 1945. Routledge. pp. 59–73. ISBN 0-7146-5662-3.
Sources
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2014) |
- Th. Luykx and M. Platel, Politieke geschiedenis van België, 2 vol., Kluwer, 1985
- E. Witte, J. Craeybeckx en A. Meynen, Politieke geschiedenis van België, Standaard, 1997
References
- ^ Keefe, Eugene K.; et al. (1974). Area Handbook for Belgium (1st ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 141.
- ^ Cerulus, Laurens (4 January 2017). "The party that's pulling the Belgian left to the left". Politico.
…centrist Christian-Democrats all split into Flemish and French-speaking parties in the late 1960s and 70s.
- ^ Kees van Kersbergen; Philip Manow (6 April 2009). Religion, Class Coalitions, and Welfare States. Cambridge University Press. pp. 21–. ISBN 978-0-521-89791-4. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ Emiel Lamberts (1 January 1997). Christian Democracy in the European Union, 1945/1995: Proceedings of the Leuven Colloquium, 15-18 November 1995. Leuven University Press. pp. 65–. ISBN 978-90-6186-808-8. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ Daniele Caramani (29 March 2004). The Nationalization of Politics: The Formation of National Electorates and Party Systems in Western Europe. Cambridge University Press. pp. 308–. ISBN 978-0-521-53520-5. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
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