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Socialist Party (Belgium)

{{About|the French-speaking party founded in 1978|the nationwide party it split from|Belgian Socialist Party}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox political party

| logo_size = 100

| colorcode = {{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}

| name = Socialist Party

| native_name = {{ublist

| {{native name|fr|Parti socialiste|italics=no}}

| {{native name|nl|Socialistische Partij|italics=no}}

| {{native name|de|Sozialistische Partei|italics=no}}

}}

| abbreviation = PS

| logo = Socialist Party (Belgium) logo.svg

| leader1_title = President

| leader1_name = Paul Magnette

| foundation = {{start date and age|1978}}

| predecessor = Belgian Socialist Party

| headquarters = National Secretariat
Bd de l'Empereur/Keizerslaan 13, Brussels

| youth_wing = Movement of Young Socialists

| membership_year = 2021

| membership = 32,000{{cite web | url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/a-moins-dun-an-des-elections-comment-les-partis-politiques-recrutent-ils-leurs-membres-et-combien-sont-ils-11258620 | title=À moins d'un an des élections, comment les partis politiques recrutent-ils leurs membres ? Et combien sont-ils ? | date=20 September 2023 }}

| think_tank = Institut Emile Vandervelde{{cite web|title=L'IEV - PS - Parti Socialiste|url=http://www.ps.be/Pagetype1/Contact/L-IEV.aspx|website=PS.be|access-date=11 September 2014}}

| ideology = Social democracy

| position = Centre-left

| international = Progressive Alliance
Socialist International

| european = Party of European Socialists

| europarl = Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats

| regional = Socialists, Greens and Democrats

| affiliation1_title = Flemish counterpart

| affiliation1 = Vooruit

| seats1_title = Chamber of Representatives
(French-speaking seats)

| seats1 = {{Composition bar|16|61|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| seats2_title = Senate
(French-speaking seats)

| seats2 = {{Composition bar|7|24|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| seats3_title = Walloon Parliament

| seats3 = {{Composition bar|19|75|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| seats4_title = Parliament of the French Community

| seats4 = {{Composition bar|28|94|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| seats5_title = Brussels Parliament
(French-speaking seats)

| seats5 = {{Composition bar|16|72|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| seats6_title = European Parliament
(French-speaking seats)

| seats6 = {{Composition bar|2|8|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| seats7_title = Benelux Parliament

| seats7 = {{Composition bar|3|21|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| colours = {{Color box|{{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}|border=darkgray}} Red

| website = {{URL|http://www.ps.be/}}

| country = Belgium

}}

The Socialist Party{{cite web |last1=Chee |first1=Foo Yun |title=Belgian king names two to form government - 16 months after election |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-belgium-politics/belgian-king-names-two-to-form-government-16-months-after-election-idUSKCN26E374 |website=Reuters |access-date=4 January 2021 |language=en |date=23 September 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Emma |title=Belgian Socialist leader warns of new election if coalition not formed in 50 days |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-paul-magnette-election-coalition-50-days/ |website=Politico |access-date=4 January 2021 |language=en |date=20 July 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Walsh |first1=David |title=Belgium: New seven-party coalition government officially sworn in |url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/10/02/belgium-s-seven-party-coalition-government-sworn-in-after-nearly-500-days-of-negotiations |website=Euronews |access-date=4 January 2021 |language=en |date=2 October 2020}} ({{langx|fr|Parti socialiste}} {{IPA|fr|paʁti sɔsjalist|}}, PS) is a social democratic{{refn|{{Cite web|url=http://parties-and-elections.eu/wallonia.html|title=Wallonia/Belgium|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|date=2019|website=Parties and Elections in Europe}}{{cite book |last=Slomp |first=Hans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LmfAPmwE6YYC&pg=PA465 |title=Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics |date=30 September 2011 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-39182-8 |pages=465– |access-date=23 August 2012}}{{cite book |author=Dimitri Almeida |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oD7bKbo0FYEC&pg=PT71 |title=The Impact of European Integration on Political Parties: Beyond the Permissive Consensus |date=27 April 2012 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-136-34039-0 |pages=71– |access-date=14 July 2013}}{{cite book |author1=Richard Collin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-vSlx-_Z408C&pg=PA218 |title=An Introduction to World Politics: Conflict and Consensus on a Small Planet |author2=Pamela L. Martin |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-4422-1803-1 |pages=218– |access-date=18 July 2013}}{{cite book |author1=Ari-Veikko Anttiroiko |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iDrTMazYhdkC&pg=PA397 |title=Encyclopedia of Digital Government |author2=Matti Mälkiä |publisher=Idea Group Inc (IGI) |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-59140-790-4 |pages=397– |access-date=18 July 2013}}}} French-speaking political party in Belgium. As of the 2024 elections, it is the fourth largest party in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and the second largest Francophone party. The party is led by Paul Magnette. The party supplies the Minister-president of the French Community (Rudy Demotte), and the Brussels-Capital Region (Rudi Vervoort). In the German-speaking community, the party is known as the Sozialistische Partei (SP).

The PS is very commonly part of governing coalitions, and dominates most local authorities because of the extremely fragmented nature of Belgian political institutions, particularly in Francophone areas. In the years since 1999, the PS has simultaneously controlled five regional executive bodies: the Government of the French Community, the Walloon Government, the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, as well as the COCOF, a local subsidiary in Brussels of the French Community Government, and the Government of the German-speaking Community.

The party, or its members, have from time to time been brought into connection with criminal activities and political scandals, mostly concerning bribery and financial fraud (Cools assassination, Agusta scandal, Dassault Affair, Carolorégienne affair, ICDI affair). The Carolorégienne affair caused Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe to step down as Minister-President of the Walloon region.

Electoral results

The PS performed well in the 2003 general election but were overtaken as the largest Francophone party by the Reformist Movement in the 2007 general election.

In the 10 June 2007 general elections, the party won 20 out of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 4 out of 40 seats in the Senate. The PS was a member of the Leterme I Government, Van Rompuy I Government, Leterme II Government and currently the Di Rupo I Government of 6 December 2011, with former PS leader Elio Di Rupo serving as Prime Minister of Belgium.

=Timeline=

Results for the Chamber of Representatives, in percentages for the Kingdom of Belgium.

ImageSize = width:650 height:210

PlotArea = height:150 left:100 bottom:50 right:100

AlignBars = justify

DateFormat = x.y

Period = from:0 till:16

TimeAxis = orientation:vertical

AlignBars = justify

ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:2 start:0

PlotData=

bar:% color:red width:22 mark:(line,white) align:center

bar:1978 from:start till:13.1 text:"13.1"

bar:1981 from:start till:12.7 text:"12.7"

bar:1985 from:start till:13.8 text:"13.8"

bar:1987 from:start till:15.6 text:"15.6"

bar:1991 from:start till:13.5 text:"13.5"

bar:1995 from:start till:11.9 text:"11.9"

bar:1999 from:start till:10.2 text:"10.2"

bar:2003 from:start till:13.0 text:"13.0"

bar:2007 from:start till:10.86 text:"10.86"

bar:2010 from:start till:13.70 text:"13.70"

bar:2014 from:start till:11.67 text:"11.67"

bar:2019 from:start till:9.46 text:"9.46"

Ideology

The PS is a centre-left party.{{cite book |author=Josep M. Colomer |author-link1=Josep Colomer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6S5JJkjpzf8C&pg=PA220 |title=Comparative European Politics |date=24 July 2008 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9780203946091 |pages=220– |access-date=13 July 2013}} Its ideology and image are a mix of social democracy and modern electoral marketing. In its political program, the party identifies as progressive and eco-socialist.{{Cite web | url=https://www.ps.be/Content/Uploads/PSOfficiel/PDFs/170%20engagements%20A5-3.pdf | title=170 engagements pour un futur idéal | language=fr | trans-title=170 commitments for an ideal future | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201151616/https://www.ps.be/Content/Uploads/PSOfficiel/PDFs/170%20engagements%20A5-3.pdf |archive-date=1 February 2022 }}

Notable figures

File:Logo PS Belgio.png (Socialist Party)]]

File:PSBrussel.JPG

= Chairmen =

= Other =

Election results

=Chamber of Representatives=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
Election

! Votes

! %

! Seats

! +/−

! Government

1978

| 689,876

| 12.5

| {{Composition bar|31|212|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

|

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

1981

| 733,137

| 12.2

| {{Composition bar|35|212|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 4

| {{no2|Opposition}}

1985

| 834,488

| 13.8

| {{Composition bar|35|212|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}} 0

| {{no2|Opposition}}

1987

| 961,361

| 15.6

| {{Composition bar|40|212|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 5

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

1991

| 831,199

| 13.5

| {{Composition bar|35|212|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 5

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

1995

| 720,819

| 11.9

| {{Composition bar|21|150|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 14

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

1999

| 631,653

| 10.2

| {{Composition bar|19|150|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 2

|{{yes2|Coalition}}

2003

| 855,992

| 13.0

| {{Composition bar|25|150|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 6

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2007

| 724,787

| 10.9

| {{Composition bar|20|150|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 5

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2010

| 894,543

| 13.7

| {{Composition bar|26|150|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 6

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2014

| 787,165

| 11.7

| {{Composition bar|23|150|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 3

| {{no2|Opposition}}

rowspan=2| 2019

| rowspan=2| 641,623

| rowspan=2| 9.5

| rowspan=2| {{Composition bar|20|150|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| rowspan=2| {{decrease}} 3

| {{partial2|External support {{small|(2020)}}}}

{{yes2|Coalition {{small|(2020–2025)}}}}
2024

| 561,602

| 8.0

| {{Composition bar|16|150|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 4

| {{no2|Opposition}}

=Senate=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
Election

! Votes

! %

! Seats

! +/−

1978

| 685,307

| 12.5

| {{Composition bar|17|106|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

|

1981

| 755,512

| 12.7

| {{Composition bar|18|106|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

1985

| 832,792

| 13.9

| {{Composition bar|18|106|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}} 0

1987

| 958,686

| 15.7

| {{Composition bar|20|106|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 2

1991

| 814,136

| 13.3

| {{Composition bar|18|106|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 2

1995

| 764,610

| 12.8

| {{Composition bar|5|40|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 13

1999

| 597,890

| 9.7

| {{Composition bar|4|40|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 1

2003

| 840,908

| 12.8

| {{Composition bar|6|40|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 2

2007

| 678,812

| 10.2

| {{Composition bar|4|40|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 2

2010

| 880,828

| 13.6

| {{Composition bar|7|40|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 3

=Regional=

==Brussels Parliament==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
rowspan=2| Election

! rowspan=2| Votes

! colspan=2| %

! rowspan=2| Seats

! rowspan=2| +/−

! rowspan=2| Government

{{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}}

! Overall

1989

| 96,189

| bgcolor="lightgrey"|

| 22.0 (#1)

| {{Composition bar|18|75|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

|

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

1995

| 88,370

| bgcolor="lightgrey"|

| 21.4 (#2)

| {{Composition bar|17|75|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 1

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

1999

| 68,307

| 18.6 (#3)

| 16.0 (#3)

| {{Composition bar|13|75|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 4

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2004

| 130,462

| 33.4 (#1)

| 28.7 (#1)

| {{Composition bar|26|89|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 13

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2009

| 107,303

| 26.2 (#2)

| 23.3 (#2)

| {{Composition bar|21|89|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 5

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2014

| 108,755

| 26.6 (#1)

| 23.5 (#1)

| {{Composition bar|21|89|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}}

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2019

| 85,530

| 22.0 (#1)

| 18.7 (#1)

| {{Composition bar|17|89|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 4

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2024

| 85,929

| 22.1 (#2)

|

| {{Composition bar|16|89|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 1

! TBD

==Walloon Parliament==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
Election

! Votes

! %

! Seats

! +/−

! Government

1995

| 665,986

| 35.2 (#1)

| {{Composition bar|30|75|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

|

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

1999

| 560,867

| 29.4 (#1)

| {{Composition bar|25|75|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 5

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2004

| 727,781

| 36.9 (#1)

| {{Composition bar|34|75|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 9

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2009

| 657,803

| 32.8 (#1)

| {{Composition bar|29|75|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 5

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

rowspan=2| 2014

| rowspan=2| 626,473

| rowspan=2| 30.9 (#1)

| rowspan=2| {{Composition bar|30|75|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| rowspan=2| {{increase}} 1

| {{yes2|Coalition {{small|(2014–2017)}}}}

{{no2|Opposition {{small|(2017–2019)}}}}
2019

| 532,422

| 26.2 (#1)

| {{Composition bar|23|75|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 7

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2024

| 480,003

| 23.2 (#2)

| {{Composition bar|19|75|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 4

| {{no2|Opposition}}

==German-speaking Community Parliament==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
Election

! Votes

! %

! Seats

! +/−

! Government

1990

| 6,407

| 16.3

| {{Composition bar|4|25|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}} 0

| {{no2|Opposition}}

1995

| 5,958

| 16.1

| {{Composition bar|4|25|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}} 0

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

1999

| 5,519

| 15.0

| {{Composition bar|4|25|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}} 0

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2004

| 6,903

| 19.0

| {{Composition bar|5|25|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2009

| 7,231

| 19.3

| {{Composition bar|5|25|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}} 0

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2014

| 6,047

| 16.1

| {{Composition bar|4|25|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 1

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2019

| 5,820

| 14.8

| {{Composition bar|4|25|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}} 0

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

2024

| 5,473

| 13.7

| {{Composition bar|3|25|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 1

| {{no2|Opposition}}

=European Parliament=

File:Logo du Parti socialiste (Belgique).png

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan=2| Election

! rowspan=2| List leader

! colspan=2| Votes

! colspan=3| %

! rowspan=2| Seats

! rowspan=2| +/−

! rowspan=2| EP Group

{{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}}

! {{abbr|G.E.C.|German electoral college}}

! {{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}}

! {{abbr|G.E.C.|German electoral college}}

! Overall

1979

| Anne-Marie Lizin {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}

| 575,824

| {{N/A}}

| 27.43 (#1)

| {{N/A}}

| 10.58

| {{Composition bar|4|24|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| New

| rowspan=3| SOC

1984

| Ernest Glinne {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}

| 762,293

| {{N/A}}

| 34.04 (#1)

| {{N/A}}

| 13.32

| {{Composition bar|5|24|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

1989

| Ernest Glinne {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}

| 854,207

| {{N/A}}

| 38.13 (#1)

| {{N/A}}

| 14.48

| {{Composition bar|5|24|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}} 0

1994

| José Happart {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}
Unclear {{small|({{abbr|G.E.C.|German electoral college}})}}

| 680,142

| 4,820

| 30.44 (#1)

| 12.57 (#5)

| 11.48

| {{Composition bar|3|25|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 2

| rowspan=3| PES

1999

| Philippe Busquin {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}
Charles Servaty {{small|({{abbr|G.E.C.|German electoral college}})}}

| 596,567

| 4,215

| 25.78 (#2)

| 11.42 (#4)

| 9.59

| {{Composition bar|3|25|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}} 0

2004

| Elio Di Rupo {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}
Werner Baumgarten {{small|({{abbr|G.E.C.|German electoral college}})}}

| 878,577

| 5,527

| 36.09 (#1)

| 14.94 (#3)

| 13.54

| {{Composition bar|4|24|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

2009

| Jean-Claude Marcourt {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}
Resi Stoffels {{small|({{abbr|G.E.C.|German electoral college}})}}

| 714,947

| 5,658

| 29.10 (#1)

| 14.63 (#4)

| 10.88

| {{Composition bar|3|22|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 1

| rowspan=4| S&D

2014

| Marie Arena {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}
Antonios Antoniadis {{small|({{abbr|G.E.C.|German electoral college}})}}

| 714,645

| 5,835

| 29.29 (#1)

| 15.12 (#4)

| 10.68

| {{Composition bar|3|21|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}} 0

2019

| Paul Magnette {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}
Matthias Zimmermann {{small|({{abbr|G.E.C.|German electoral college}})}}

| 651,157

| 4,655

| 26.69 (#1)

| 11.42 (#4)

| 9.74

| {{Composition bar|2|21|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{decrease}} 1

2024

| Elio Di Rupo {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}
Charles Servaty {{small|({{abbr|G.E.C.|German electoral college}})}}

| 529,697

| 5,131

| 20.52 (#1)

| 11.82 (#5)

| 7.50

| {{Composition bar|2|22|hex={{party color|Socialist Party (Belgium)}}}}

| {{steady}} 0

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category|Parti Socialiste (Belgium)}}

  • {{Official website|http://www.ps.be }}
  • [http://www.sp-dg.be/ Official website of German-speaking section]

{{Belgian_political_parties}}

{{Party of European Socialists}}

Category:Francophone political parties in Belgium

Category:Social democratic parties

Category:Full member parties of the Socialist International

Category:Party of European Socialists member parties

Category:Regionalism (politics)

Category:Political parties established in 1978

Category:1978 establishments in Belgium

Category:Socialist parties in Belgium

Category:Progressive Alliance

Category:Centre-left parties in Europe