Chamber:
	Chambre des Représentants - Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers - Abgeordnetenkammer
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	13 June 1999
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives following the dissolution of Parliament in the wake of adoption of a declaration to revise the Constitution.
Background and outcome of elections:
	The 1999 general elections were held simultaneously with polling for Belgium's representatives to the European Parliament and for regional assemblies in Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels, and the German-speaking community. For the seats of the bicameral Parliament, the centre-left coalition Government comprising members of the Flemish and Walloon (French-speaking) branches of the Christian Social (CVP and PSC) and Socialist (SP and PS) parties was primarily opposed, as in the past, by the Liberal Party (VLD and PRL), nationalist (Volksunie) far-right parties (Vlaams Blok) and the Greens (Agalev and Ecolo). Campaign debate focused to a great extent on the dioxin-in-food crisis resulting from polluted animal feed. This overshadowed the successes of the outgoing Government led by Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene (CVP): reduction of unemployment and public debt, the country's joining Europe's single currency system, and the launching of far-reaching reforms of the police and justice sectors. On polling day, voter outrage and confusion over the Government's mishandling of the above-mentioned food issue proved decisive, as the governing duo lost 16 seats to its challengers and especially the Liberals, who became the leading force in the House of Representatives for the first time since World War II. Analysts also interpreted this outcome as bearing out the electorate's desire for change in the ruling circles and for an end to the political upheavals which had bedevilled the outgoing Administration. As is customary after elections for the complete renewal of both Houses of Parliament, the Prime Minister, Mr. Dehaene, tendered his resignation to the King on 14 June 1999. Following consultations conducted by a liberal French-speaker, Mr. Louis Michel, a tri-partite government was formed by a liberal Fleming, Mr. Guy Verhofstadt. It is composed of the liberal, socialist and ecologist parties. The Verhofstadt government won a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on 17 July 1999.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (13 June 1999): Elections results
Number of registered electors	7 343 464
Voters	6 652 005 (91 %)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	437 931
Valid votes	6 214 074

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
Liberal Party - Flemish (VLD)	888 861	14.30
Christian Social Party - Flemish (CVP)	875 455	14.09
Socialist Party - Walloon (PS)	631 653	10.16
Liberal Party - Walloon (PRL-FDF)	630 219	10.14
Vlaams Blok	613 399	9.87
Socialist Party - Flemish (SP)	593 372	9.55
Greens - Walloon (Ecolo)	457 281	7.36
Christian Social Party - Walloon (PSC)	365 318	5.88
Greens - Flemish (Agalev)	434 449	6.99
Volksunie	345 576	5.56
National Front (FN)	90 401	1.45

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Liberal Party - Flemish (VLD)	23
Christian Social Party - Flemish (CVP)	22
Socialist Party - Walloon (PS)	19
Liberal Party - Walloon (PRL-FDF)	18
Vlaams Blok	15
Socialist Party - Flemish (SP)	14
Greens - Walloon (Ecolo)	11
Christian Social Party - Walloon (PSC)	10
Greens - Flemish (Agalev)	9
Volksunie	8
National Front (FN)	1

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	115
Women:	35
Percent of women:	23.33

Distribution of seats according to age:
21 to 30 years	5
31 to 40 years	33
41 to 50 years	53
51 to 60 years	49
61 to 70 years	10
Distribution of seats according to profession:
Teachers	41
Liberal professions	37
Salaried employees	29
Civil servants	22
Self-employed	15
Retired	2
Journalists/writers/publishers	2
Unemployed	2