BELGIAN PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20262, 23 May 1929, Page 11

BELGIAN PARLIAMENT.

ELECTION ON SUNDAY. LARGE LIST OF CANDIDATES. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received May 22, 5.4S p.m.) BRUSSELS. May 21. Tho people oi Belgium will elect new members of tho Senato and Chamber of Representatives on Sunday. "Voting is compulsory for men. The only women voters arc the widows of soldiers who have not married again, soldiers' mothers and women who were imprisoned during the German occupation of tho country. There is a larger list of candidates than previously, but the main contest is between the Conservatives and the divided Catholics, tho Liberals and tho Socialists. Tho Senato includes 20 co-opted members, 40 nominees of the municipalities and tho King's two sons. There are 187 seats in tho Belgian House of Representatives. Tho state of parties in tho last Parliament was:— Catholics and Christian Democrats, ; Liberals, 23; Socialists, 78; Flemish Separatists, 6; Communists, 2. Tho Catholic Party includes a right wing with Conservative tendencies and a left wing with democratic tendencies. The Catholics aro divided on tho language question, but they present a united front for the defence of common religious interests. In tho Senate there aro 153 seats not including the heir to the throne. The members in tho last House were:— Catholics, 70; Liberals, 23; Socialists,. 60. Since the war coalitions have ruled tho country in lieu of government by one party.