This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
The Christian Social Party (French: Parti Social Chrétien, or PSC; Dutch: Christelijke Volkspartij, CVP) was a major centre-right political partyinBelgium which existed from 1945 until 1968.
Christian Social Party—Christian People's Party
Christelijke Volkspartij
Parti Social Chrétien | |
---|---|
![]()
Francophone logo, used c.1958
| |
Historical leaders | Jean Duvieusart (first) Jean-Charles Snoy et d'Oppuers (last) |
Founded | August 18, 1945 (1945-08-18) |
Dissolved | 1968 (1968) |
Preceded by | Catholic Block |
Succeeded by | Christelijke Volkspartij (CVP), Parti social chrétien (PSC) |
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 |
|
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.[3] 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 tensions, 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).
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 | 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 |
…centrist Christian-Democrats all split into Flemish and French-speaking parties in the late 1960s and 70s.
This article about a Belgian political party is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |