Belgian Socialist Party

Political party in Belgium

Belgian Socialist Party

French: Parti socialiste belge
Dutch: Belgische Socialistische Partij

The fist and rose emblem used by the party from 1973.[1]

President| Achille Van Acker (first)
André Cools (last)
Founder| Paul-Henri Spaak
Founded| May 1945
Dissolved| October 1978
Preceded by| Belgian Labour Party
Succeeded by| Socialist Party (Flemish)
Socialist Party (Francophone)
Headquarters| Brussels, Belgium
Trade union wing| General Federation of Belgian Labour
Ideology| Social democracy
Democratic socialism
Political position| Centre-left
European affiliation| Confederation of the Socialist Parties
International affiliation| Socialist International
Colours|  Red

* Politics of Belgium
* Political parties
* Elections

The Belgian Socialist Party (French: Parti Socialiste belge, PSB; Dutch: Belgische Socialistische Partij, BSP) was a social-democratic political party which existed in Belgium from 1945 to 1978. During its time in office, a number of progressive social reforms were introduced.[2]

The BSP was founded by activists from the Belgian Labour Party (1885–1940), which was the first Belgian socialist party. It ceased to function during the Second World War, while Belgium was under Nazi occupation. Its main support bases were the co-operative and trade union movements, and it won relatively more support in Wallonia. Like most Belgian political organisations, the party supported greater integration with the European Economic Community, albeit in a socialist context.[3]

As linguistic and community issues became more divisive, the Belgian Socialist Party split into two new entities: the Flemish Socialist Party for the Flemish community and the Parti Socialiste (PS) for the Francophone community.

## Presidents

[edit]

Presidents BSP/PSB[4]

Period | President
1942–1945  | Achille Van Acker
1945–1959  | Max Buset
1959–1971  | Leo Collard
Co-Presidents (from 1971)[5]
Period | Dutch speaking co-President | French speaking co-President
1971–1973  | Jos Van Eynde [nl] | Edmond Leburton
1973–1975  | Jos Van Eynde | André Cools
1975–1977  | Willy Claes | André Cools
1977–1978  | Karel Van Miert | André Cools

## Election Results

[edit]

Election year  | Votes  | Seats  | Change

|
|
|

Number  | Percentage
1946 | 746,738  | 31.57%  |

69 / 202

1949 | 1,496,539  | 29.76%  |

66 / 212

|  3
1950 | 1,705,781  | 34.51%  |

73 / 212

|  7
1954 | 1,927,015  | 37.34%  |

82 / 212

|  9
1958 | 1,897,646  | 35.79%  |

80 / 212

|  2
1961 | 1,933,424  | 36.72%  |

84 / 212

|  4
1965 | 1,403,107  | 28.28%  |

64 / 212

|  20
1968 | 1,403,107  | 27.10%  |

59 / 212

|  5
1971 | 549,483

623,395

1,172,878

| 10.40%

11.80%

22,20%

25 / 212

25 / 212

50 / 212

[a] |  9
1974 | 1,401,725  | 26.66%  |

59 / 212

[b] |  9
1977 | 602,132

725,513

1,327,645

| 10.80%

13.01%

23,81%

34 / 212

27 / 212

61 / 212

[a] |  2

a From the 1971 general election, the Belgian Socialist Party ran separate lists for Flanders and Wallonia; however, they still existed under a single party. The letters in bold thus show the results of the combined lists and consequently the true result of the Belgian Socialist Party in each election
b Whilst the Belgian Socialist Party also ran separate lists for Flanders and Wallonia in the 1974 general election, there is no information on the results of separate lists, hence only the result for the combined lists is shown.

## See also

[edit]

* Agusta scandal
* Charter of Quaregnon
* Socialist Party (francophone Belgium), also known as the Parti Socialiste or PS of Belgium, a French-speaking social democratic political party
* Vooruit, the Flemish social-democratic party in Belgium. It was formerly known as SP, then as SP.a

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Pfister, Thierry (24 May 1975). "M. Mitterrand cherche un langage commun avec les leaders socialistes de l'Europe du Sud". Le Monde (in French). Paris. ISSN 0395-2037. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-10-10.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. ^ Cook, Chris; Francis, Mary (1979). The first European elections: A handbook and guide. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 0-333-26575-0.
4. ^ "sp.a partijvoorzitters". Tijdslijn.s-p-a.be. Archived from the original on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
5. ^ [1] Archived October 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Parti Socialiste (Belgium) at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Vooruit (Forward)

Leadership|

* Karel Van Miert
* Frank Vandenbroucke
* Louis Tobback
* Fred Erdman
* Patrick Janssens
* Steve Stevaert
* Johan Vande Lanotte
* Caroline Gennez
* Bruno Tobback
* John Crombez
* Conner Rousseau
* Melissa Depraetere

* * *

Former partyformation|

* Belgian Labour Party / Belgische Werklieden Partij (BWP)
* Belgian Socialist Party / Belgische Socialistische Partij (BSP)

* * *

Related organisations|

* Jongsocialisten
* Zij-kant
* S-Plus
* Curieus
* sp.a rood
* Vonk
* FOS-socialistische solidariteit

* * *

Symbols|

* Charter of Quaregnon
* The Internationale
* May Day
* Red Rose

* * *

Belgian socialist pillar|

* Socialist Party / Parti Socialiste (PS)
* Socialist Party Sozialistische Partei (SP)
* General Federation of Belgian Labour / Algemeen Belgisch Vakverbond (ABVV)
* Socialistische Mutualiteiten
* Center for Homecare / (Centrum voor) Thuiszorg
* De Morgen
* Vermeylenfonds
* Rode Valken

* v
* t
* e

Political parties in Belgium

Flemish parties|

| Major|

* New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) (25)
* Flemish Interest (VB) (18)
* Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) (12)
* Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vld) (12)
* Vooruit (Forward) (9)
* Green (Groen) (8)

|

Minor|

* Libertarian, Direct, Democratic (LDD)

Francophone parties|

| Major|

* Socialist Party (PS) (20)
* Reformist Movement (MR) (14)
* Ecolo (13)
* Les Engagés (The Engaged Ones) (5)
* DéFI (2)

|

Minor|

* Liberal Democrats (Belgium)
* Libertarian Party
* Nation
* Rally Wallonia France
* Walloon Rally (RW)
* Chez nous

Unitary|

| Major|

* Workers' Party (PVDA/PTB) (12)

|

Minor|

* Agora
* Belgian Union (BUB)
* DierAnimal
* ISLAM
* Left Socialist Party (LSP/PSL)
* Pirate Party
* Pro Bruxsel
* Vivant
* Volt Belgium
* Communist Party
* L'Unie

German-speaking|

* Christian Social Party (CSP)
* Party for Freedom and Progress (PFF)
* Ecolo
* Libertarian Party
* ProDG
* Socialist Party (SP)

Former notable|

* Catholic Party → Christian Social Party (CVP/PSC) (1869–1968)
* Labour Party (BWP/POB) → Socialist Party (SP/PS) (1885–1978)
* Liberal Party → Party for Freedom and Progress (PVV/PLP) (1846–1992)

* Communist Party (1921/1989–2009)
* Flemish National Union (VNV) (1933–1944)
* Front Party (1919–1933)
* National Front (1985–2012)
* People's Union (1954–2001)
* Rexist Party (1930–1945)
* Social Liberal Party (SLP/Spirit) (2001–2009)

The numbers are seats in the Chamber of Representatives (150)

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* List of political parties
* Politics of Belgium

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