1971 Belgian general election

General elections were held in Belgium on 7 November 1971.^[1] The result was a victory for the Christian People's Party, which won 40 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 34 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 91.5%.^[2] Elections to the nine provincial councils were also held.

1971 Belgian general election

← 1968 7 November 1971 1974 →
All 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives
First party Second party Third party   Leader Jos Van Eynde [nl] Edmond Leburton Gaston Eyskens Pierre Descamps Party Socialist CVP PVV-PLP Last election 27.10%, 59 seats – 20.87%, 47 seats Seats won 57 40 34 Seat change 2 New 13 Popular vote 1,335,730 967,701 865,655 Percentage 25.29% 18.32% 16.39% Swing 1.81pp New 4.48pp   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Frans Van der Elst Robert J. Houben Party VU PSC Last election 9.79%, 20 seats – Seats won 21 15 Seat change 1 New Popular vote 586,917 327,393 Percentage 11.11% 6.20% Swing 1.32pp New
Results by constituency for the Chamber of Representatives
Government before election G. Eyskens V CVP-PSC-BSP/PSB Government after election G. Eyskens V CVP-PSC-BSP/PSB

The linguistic issues led to the splitting of the major parties into separate Flemish and Francophone parties. Consequently the election returned a very fragmented parliament.

The election followed the first state reform, with the creation of three cultural communities. The newly elected members of parliament would thus also serve in the newly established cultural councils.