Articles

Les élections européennes de 1984 : Analyse des résultats pour la Belgique

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Abstract

The European election which took place on June 17, 1984 must be seen in a more national than European context. Compared with previous general elections, the turn-out was generally lower and individual candidates polled a larger number of votes. 
Ought the Christian Democrats and Liberals, who make up the ruling coalition, be pleased about their respective results ? A careful approach is required to answer that question. For the country as a whole, the
four governing parties lost 2.45 % of their share of the vote in relation to the 1981 general election.  This cannot be seen either as a massive repudiation or as a very satisfactory result. After two and a half years in power, this can be regarded as an average performance. However, if one takes a closer look at it, the result cannot be said as being very satisfying. In Flanders, the Liberals suffered a severe setback whereas the level of support for the Christian Democrats was only fractionally higher than in 1981 . Between them, the two governing parties lost 6.72 % of the votes. In Brussels, the four ruling parties gained 9.89 %. This is partly due to two factors: the votes polled by Mr. Nols and, more importantly, the fact that no UDRT candidate stood in the election. It is not at all certain that a similar result would be recorded at a general election. Finally, in Wallonia, the two governing parties put up a good fight and gained 1.37 % of the votes whereas the Socialists and the Green movement made gains not because the ruling parties suffered a defeat but because of the considerable losses both by the Communist Party and by the nationalist parties.

How to Cite:

Fraeys, W., (1984) “Les élections européennes de 1984 : Analyse des résultats pour la Belgique”, Res Publica 26(5), 587-601. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/rp.v26i5.19216