Christian Social Party (Belgium, 1945)

Christian Social Party—Christian People's Party
Christelijke Volkspartij
Parti Social Chrétien
Historical leadersJean Duvieusart (first)
Jean-Charles Snoy et d'Oppuers (last)
FoundedAugust 18, 1945 (1945-08-18)
Dissolved1968 (1968)
Preceded byCatholic Block
Succeeded byChristelijke Volkspartij (CVP),
Parti social chrétien (PSC)
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
IdeologyChristian democracy
Pro-Europeanism
Political positionCentre
European affiliationChristian Democrat group
International affiliationChristian 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 PSC-CVP was established after the Liberation of Belgium with an explicitly "deconfessionalised" orientation in the Christian Democratic tradition. It remained the largest party in Belgian politics throughout much of its existence and was the last party in Belgian history to gain an outright majority in the 1950 elections. It provided a number of influential prime ministers and participated in most coalition governments in combination with the Belgian Socialist Party and the Liberal Party or its successor the Party for Freedom and Progress.

Amid rising regionalist tensiions, the PSC-CVP's regional parties split along linguistic lines in 1968 to form the Francophone Christian Social Party (Parti Social Chrétien, PSC) and Flemish Christian People's Party (Christelijke Volkspartij, CVP).

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.

Election results

Chamber of Representatives

Election Votes % Seats +/– Position Government
1946 1,006,293 42.5
92 / 202
Increase 19 Steady 1st Opposition
1949 2,190,895 43.6
105 / 212
Increase 13 Steady 1st Christian Social-Liberal coalition
1950 2,356,608 47.7
108 / 212
Increase 3 Steady 1st Majority government
1954 2,123,408 41.2
95 / 212
Decrease 13 Steady 1st Opposition
1958 2,465,549 46.5
104 / 212
Increase 9 Steady 1st Minority government until November 1958, later Christian Social-Liberal coalition
1961 2,182,642 41.5
96 / 212
Decrease 8 Steady 1st Christian Social-Socialist coalition
1965 1,785,211 34.5
77 / 212
Decrease 19 Steady 1st Christian Social-Socialist coalition until March 1966, later Christian Social-Liberal coalition
1968 1,643,785 31.8
69 / 212
Decrease 8 Steady 1st Christian Social-Socialist coalition

Notable members

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. pp. 59–73. ISBN 0-7146-5662-3. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

Sources

  • 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

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