1950 Belgian monarchy referendum

Referendum on the return of King Leopold to the throne of Belgium Are you of the opinion that King Leopold III should resume the exercise of his constitutional powers? Belgium 12 March 1950 2,933,382 2,151,881 151,477 5,635,452 Koningskwestie kaart met percentage voor-stemmen.png Results by arrondissement A referendum on allowing King Leopold III's return to Belgium, and restoration of his powers and duties as monarch was held in Belgium on 12 March 1950. The proposal was approved by 58% of voters.http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=be011950 Belgium, 12 March 1950: Return of King Leopold III Direct Democracy 12 March 1950 de Background Royal Question King Leopold went into exile in June 1944, when Heinrich Himmler ordered him to leave Belgium. Leopold was held by the Nazis in Strobl, Austria until early May 1945, when he was freed by members of the United States 106th Cavalry Group. Because of the political troubles surrounding his wartime behaviour, King Leopold remained in exile in Switzerland until 1950, his brother Prince Charles, Count of Flanders having been installed as Regent after the Liberation in 1944. The Catholics, who generally supported the King's return, won a majority in the Belgian Senate during the general election of 26 June 1949. The Catholics formed a government with the Liberals. The date of the referendum (fr Consultation populaire none) the King wanted was set by this government for 12 March 1950. Socialist Leader Paul-Henri Spaak opposed holding a referendum. He foresaw that the vote for Leopold might fall between 55% and 65%, giving no decisive mandate for the king's return, and that the King would carry Flanders and lose Wallonia. In that case, said Spaak, "the government would not only have on its hands the King's abdication or return, it would also have to appease the anger, acerbity and rancor of Flanders or Wallonia."http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,858723,00.html Belgium up in the air Time 20 March 1950 https://web.archive.org/web/20090615141151/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,858723,00.html 15 June 2009 Results thumb|right|350px|Belgian monarchy consultation 1950 results by province thumb|right|350px|Results by region. #0247FE For #841B2D Against The question voters were asked was: Dutch: "Zijt U de mening toegedaan dat Koning Leopold III de uitoefening van zijn grondwettelijke machten zou hernemen?" French: "Êtes-vous d'avis que le Roi Leopold III reprenne l'exercice de ses pouvoirs constitutionnels ?" Translation: "Are you of the opinion that King Leopold III should resume the exercise of his constitutional powers?" A majority voted in favour of Leopold's return. In Flanders 72% voted in favour while in Wallonia 58% voted against. In Brussels, 52% voted against.http://mrw.wallonie.be/sg/dsg/dircom/walcartes/pages/map325.htm Niveau de perception : Belgique Institut Destrée et Université de Liège https://web.archive.org/web/20120227101735/http://mrw.wallonie.be/sg/dsg/dircom/walcartes/pages/map325.htm 27 February 2012 2933382 2151881 151477 5635452 Direct DemocracyBelgien, 12. März 1950 : Rückkehr König Leopolds III -- [in German] 12 March 1950 http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=be011950 By arrondissement ArrondissementProvinceTotalvotesInvalid/blankForAgainstVotes%Votes%AntwerpenAntwerp484,93612,236297,86363.0174,83737.0MechelenAntwerp156,0993,905106,45069.945,74430.1TurnhoutAntwerp134,6843,678110,57684.420,43015.6BrusselsBrabant832,08726,773387,91448.2417,40051.8LeuvenBrabant197,5407,530125,94466.364,06633.7 NivellesBrabant119,6863,09743,77737.572,81262.5BruggeWest Flanders119,5733,67783,62372.232,27327.8Veurne-Diksmuide-OostendeWest Flanders118,2654,61582,65272.730,99827.3Roeselare-TieltWest Flanders116,9453,37296,19684.717,37715.3KortrijkWest Flanders167,7725,163114,19870.248,41129.8YpresWest Flanders74,1013,01154,10976.116,98123.9Gent-EekloEast Flanders328,2989,792224,87470.693,63229.4Sint-NiklaasEast Flanders111,0481,83384,95577.824,26022.2DendermondeEast Flanders97,7562,15072,22375.523,38324.5AalstEast Flanders145,9942,924100,13070.042,94030.0OudenaardeEast Flanders73,5002,37147,60766.923,52233.1 MonsHainaut162,2504,46749,24331.2108,54068.8 SoigniesHainaut103,9522,56534,87534.466,51265.6 CharleroiHainaut268,3757,20986,00332.9175,16367.1 ThuinHainaut82,5402,29434,52943.045,71757.0 Tournai-AthHainaut147,9924,05662,66143.581,27556.5 LiègeLiège353,59810,095119,16134.7224,34265.3 Huy-WaremmeLiège109,2863,13244,44541.961,70958.1VerviersLiège141,2534,99881,23859.655,01740.4HasseltLimburg109,4723,51387,24182.318,71817.7Tongeren-MaaseikLimburg124,3333,616101,78384.318,93415.7Arlon-Marche-BastogneLuxembourg72,5262,07846,29665.724,15234.3Neufchâteau-VirtonLuxembourg59,2231,59537,44365.020,18535.0NamurNamur135,6003,49564,11248.567,99351.5Dinant-PhilippevilleNamur88,0562,23751,26159.734,55840.3Flanders (four Flemish provinces plus Leuven)Almost corresponding to the present-day five Flemish provinces making up the Flemish Region, except for Halle-Vilvoorde which was then part of the arrondissement of Brussels2,560,31673,3861,790,42471.0696,50628.0Wallonia (four Walloon provinces plus Nivelles)Corresponding to the present-day five Walloon provinces making up the Walloon Region1,844,33751,318755,04442.11,037,97557.9Total5,236,740151,4772,933,38257.72,151,88142.3Source: Theunissen,Paul Theunissen 1950, Ontknoping van de koningskwestie De Nederlandsche boekhandel, Anvers 1984 16–17 90-289-0892-7 Alexandre,Jean Alexandre La Revue Nouvelle Géographie politique de la Belgique: Résultats de la consultation populaire du 12 Mars 1950 15 April 1950 379–385 Senatehttp://www.senate.be/lexdocs/S0712/S07122278.pdf Communication of the Minister of the Interior on the referendum Senate 13 March 1950 Aftermath Royal Question#Return of Leopold Notes References Monarchy Belgium Category:Referendums in Belgium Belgium Category:Monarchy referendums in Europe Belgium Category:Elective monarchy