1900 Belgian general election

Full general elections were held in Belgium on 27 May 1900.^[1] They were the first elections under a proportional system (using the D'Hondt method) instead of a majority system,^[2] with Belgium becoming the first country in the world to adopt proportional representation for parliamentary elections. Single-member constituencies were replaced with multi-member constituencies of between three and eighteen seats.

Quick facts All 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives, First party ...

1900 Belgian general election

← 1898 27 May 1900 1902 â†’
All 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
First party Second party Third party   Leader Paul de Smet de Naeyer August De Winne Party Catholic Labour Liberal Seats won 86 32 31 Popular vote 993,945 461,295 464,959 Percentage 48.46% 22.49% 22.67%
Government before election de Smet de Naeyer II Catholic Government after election de Smet de Naeyer II Catholic

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The introduction of proportional representation was beneficial to the Liberal Party, which took significantly more seats. Although the Catholic Party lost seats, it retained its absolute majority, winning 86 of the 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 44 of the 76 seats in the Senate.^[3]