1981 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 8 November 1981. Voter turnout was 94.5% in the Chamber election and 94.6% in the Senate election. Elections were also held for the nine provincial councils and for the Council of the German Cultural Community. They were the first elections after the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. This contributed to the success of the socialist parties and the green parties (Agalev and Ecolo).

1981 Belgian general election

8 November 1981
212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
First party Second party Third party   Leader Mark Eyskens André Cools Willy De Clercq Party CVP PS Open Vld Leader since Candidate for PM 1978 1977 Last election 57 seats, 26.14% 31 seats, 12.46% 22 seats, 10.36% Seats won 43 35 28 Seat change 14 4 6 Popular vote 1,165,239 733,137 776,871 Percentage 19.34% 12.17% 12.89% Swing 6.80% 0.29% 2.53%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   PRL Leader Karel Van Miert Jean Gol Vic Anciaux Party sp.a PRL VU Leader since 1978 1979 1979 Last election 26 seats, 12.37% 15 seats, 4.64% 14 seats, 7.02% Seats won 26 24 20 Seat change 9 6 Popular vote 744,593 480,380 588,436 Percentage 12.36% 7.97% 9.77% Swing 0.01% 3.33% 2.75%
Government before election M. Eyskens CVP-PSC-PS-SP Government after election Martens V CVP-PSC-PVV-PRL

The traditionally largest Christian People's Party saw significant losses, with only 43 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. The result was considered an election upset.

Results

Chamber of Representatives

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Christian People's Party	1,165,239	19.34	43	–14
	Party for Freedom and Progress	776,871	12.89	28	+6
	Parti Socialiste	764,921	12.70	35	+4
	Socialistische Partij	744,593	12.36	26	0
	People's Union	588,436	9.77	20	+6
	Liberal Reformist Party	480,380	7.97	24	+9
	Social Christian Party	390,896	6.49	18	–7
	FDF–Walloon Rally	253,720	4.21	8	–3
	Democratic Union for the Respect of Labour	163,727	2.72	3	+2
	Ecolo	151,826	2.52	2	+2
	Agalev	138,575	2.30	2	+2
	Communist Party of Belgium	138,978	2.31	2	–2
	Vlaams Blok	66,424	1.10	1	0
	Workers' Party of Belgium	45,804	0.76	0	New
	Christian Social Party	39,961	0.66	0	New
	PRL–PFF	35,925	0.60	0	New
	WALLON	31,061	0.52	0	New
	Party of German-speaking Belgians	8,397	0.14	0	0
	Party of New Forces	7,581	0.13	0	0
	Revolutionary Workers' League	7,110	0.12	0	0
	Revolutionary Workers' League for Socialism	5,241	0.09	0	New
	BLANCO	4,118	0.07	0	New
	Direct Democracy	3,545	0.06	0	New
	Belgian National Party	3,357	0.06	0	New
	Francophone National Union	2,914	0.05	0	New
	Party for Christian Politics Alternative	1,785	0.03	0	New
	United Feminist Party	856	0.01	0	0
	Appeal to Youth	838	0.01	0	New
	Democratic Radical Union	598	0.01	0	New
	List 12	588	0.01	0	New
	List 14	372	0.01	0	New
	Namur Independent Candidate	210	0.00	0	New
	List 13	180	0.00	0	New
Total		6,025,027	100.00	212	0
Valid votes		6,025,027	92.66
Invalid/blank votes		477,043	7.34
Total votes		6,502,070	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		6,877,466	94.54
Source: Belgian Elections

Senate

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Christian People's Party	1,149,353	19.26	22	–7
	Party for Freedom and Progress	781,137	13.09	14	+3
	Parti Socialiste	755,512	12.66	18	New
	Socialistische Partij	732,126	12.27	13	New
	People's Union	587,002	9.84	10	+3
	Liberal Reformist Party	515,868	8.64	11	New
	Social Christian Party	414,733	6.95	8	–4
	FDF–Walloon Rally	255,727	4.28	4	–3
	Democratic Union for the Respect of Labour	164,131	2.75	1	+1
	Ecolo	153,989	2.58	3	+3
	Communist Party of Belgium	140,577	2.36	1	0
	Agalev	121,016	2.03	1	New
	Vlaams Blok	71,733	1.20	0	0
	Workers' Party of Belgium	49,577	0.83	0	New
	WALLON	30,632	0.51	0	New
	Party of German-speaking Belgians	8,770	0.15	0	0
	Revolutionary Workers' League	8,450	0.14	0	0
	Revolutionary Workers' League for Socialism	5,894	0.10	0	New
	Party of New Forces	5,317	0.09	0	New
	ECOLOS	2,796	0.05	0	New
	Francophone National Union	2,721	0.05	0	New
	Direct Democracy	2,295	0.04	0	New
	Party of New Forces (Wallonia)	2,092	0.04	0	New
	GOOSSE	1,511	0.03	0	New
	BELGE	1,326	0.02	0	New
	United Feminist Party	1,052	0.02	0	0
	Protest from the Small Saver	737	0.01	0	New
	Democratic Radical Union	629	0.01	0	New
	List 12	626	0.01	0	New
	PAIX	611	0.01	0	New
	List 14	378	0.01	0	New
	List 13	111	0.00	0	New
Total		5,968,429	100.00	106	0
Valid votes		5,968,429	91.78
Invalid/blank votes		534,297	8.22
Total votes		6,502,726	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		6,877,466	94.55
Source: Belgian Elections