No Dictatorships for Belgians

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 6

No Dictatorships for Belgians

SOCIALISTS REJECTED United Press Association.— By Bee trio Telegraph.—Copyrichc. BRUSSELS, April 3. The Belgian elections resulted in considerable gains for the Catholic Tarty and the Liberals. Socialists lost several seats in the Senate and Chamber cf Deputies and the Fascist party, known as the Rexists, also suffered a sharp setback, their numjjcr being reduced from 21 Jn the Chamber to four. In the Senate the Rexists will probably have only one seat \ It is expected that the strength of the parties in the Chamber of Deputies will be as follows: Catholics 73 Socialists 64 Liberals 33 Flemish Nationalists 17 Communists 9 Rexists 4 Technocrats 1 Ex-Servicers 1 In the Senate results for 101 seats for which election is direct the party strength is:—Catholics 38, Socialists 35, Liberals 18, Flemish Nationalists* 6, Communists 3, Rexists 1. Provincial councillors will elect an additional 44 members of the Senate on April 12, after which 22 more will be co-opted. Eupen and Malmedy, ceded to Belgium from Germany after the war, showed a majority vote for the Belgian ticket Catholics were victorious in most districts, superseding the Socialists who lost everywhere except at Antwerp. The Liberals progressed in the larger towns and in the Walloon territory The Brussels correspondent of The Times says that it is likely that the new Government will be based on the support of the Catholics and Liberals. The Liberal vote of 405,608 showed an increase of 112,836, the Catholic vote was 762,642, an increase of 86,701. The Socialists with 704,582 votes showed a decrease of 52,903. Communists with 125,250 had a decrease of 17,973 and the Rexists with 103,636 a decrease of 167.855.