The International Socialist Review (1900-1918)/Volume 1/Number 1/The Legislative Elections in Belgium
The Legislative Elections in Belgium.
Before examining into the results of the electoral struggle which has just taken place, it is necessary to give a brief explanation of the conditions attending it. Since 1893 we have a new electoral law which establishes universal suffrage, but only in the sense that it accords at least one vote to every individual over twenty-five years of age. But this universal suffrage is vitiated by the provision that certain citizens, by reason of position or of property, have two or three votes. It is easily understood that this system is made to favor the conservative parties. Up to this time the law established "election by majority"; this year, for the first time, a new law establishing "proportional representation" went into effect, and on this occasion the parliament had been dissolved and the elections extended over the entire country.
Since 1884, following the almost total exclusion of the liberals, the catholic (clerical ultramontane) government had a majority of 72 votes out of a total of 152 seats in parliament. The liberals had 12 seats and the socialists 28. The new chamber is composed of 85 clericals, 1 Christian democrat, 35 liberals (moderate and progressive), and 33 socialists. The votes were divided as follows: Catholics (clericals), 1,007,166; Christian democrats, 55,000; liberals (of all shades), 500,610; socialists, 463,529. This result is, therefore, a new triumph for our party, for if it gains but five seats it is because the suppression of "election by majority" made it lose Mons. Charleroi and Thuin, where it is much stronger than all the other parties combined. It is, then, rather the increase in the number of votes that should be considered; we have gained about 140,000 since 1896.
Another notable point in our success is that our influence is beginning to pass beyond the purely industrial regions and to extend into the farming regions, hitherto impenetrable. This symptom is very important, for it shows us that success depends upon ourselves and our own efforts.
The results of the election also show that the liberal party, which believed that proportional representation would prove its Fountain of Youth, is truly a party in decay. Almost everywhere since the last elections it is in retreat, and it is evident that, while the advanced elements and all the young are coming over to socialism, the moderate elements are already going into the catholic party, not even voting for the liberal candidates presented at the elections.
Another lesson from the 27th of May is the ridiculous number of votes obtained by the Christian democrats, who only succeeded in electing one single man, and, above all, the death of that abortion called the "Liberal Labor Party," which at Brussels obtained 1,000 votes out of 220,000. This party, organized at the instigation of "moderate liberal" employers, was intended to divert workingmen from socialism.
One conclusion remains to be drawn, and that concerns the future of the political movement. The opposition parties, at least the socialists and the progressive liberals, will press on with more ardor than ever to universal suffrage pure and simple at 21 years, and it is probable that with 1901 will begin an obstructionist campaign in parliament.
Will the moderate liberals join this movement? They hardly seem attached to it today, and their inclinations are drawing them closer to the catholic party, toward which their class affinities push them, as do also their economic interests and their fear of socialism.
Even today we have seen a part of their following pass over to the clericals, in order to solidify the government, for they prefer the present ministry to one in which the socialists might have their word to say. It is, therefore, a concentration of capitalist forces which is impending. While it awaits completion we are organizing ourselves not only on the field of political struggles, but our unions, our mutual benefit societies and, above all, our co-operatives, are taking an ever wider flight, and we are becoming more and more a state within a state, in a way to prepare us to take the place of the capitalist world in all the domains where its activity is exercised.