Communist Party of Belgium
Encyclopedia
Communist Party of Belgium (in Dutch
: Kommunistische Partij van België, in French
: Parti Communiste de Belgique) was a political party
in Belgium
. The youth wing of KPB/PCB was known as the Communist Youth of Belgium. The party published Le Drapeau Rouge in French and De Roode Vaan in Dutch.
on September 3-4 1921. KPB/PCB was formed through the unification of two groups, the Communist Party led by War Van Overstraeten and the Belgian Communist Party led by Joseph Jacquemotte, following a split from the Belgian Workers Party. At the time of its foundation, KPB/PCB had around 500 members. KPB/PCB became the Belgian section of the Communist International.
The party gained parliamentary presence in 1925, as both Van Overstraeten and Jacquemotte were elected MPs.
By 1935 KPB/PCB had 9 deputies in the lower house of parliament and 4 senators. In 1938 it had a membership of about 8,500.
During the Second World War, the party had to go underground during German occupation. After the end of the war, the party was strengthened and obtained 12.7% in the parliamentary elections. The party participated in coalition government with the socialists and the liberals during 1946-1947.
On August 18, 1950 the party chairman, Julien Lahaut
, was assassinated by François Goossens, a Leopoldist
.
In the mid 1960s the U.S. State Department estimated the party membership to be approximately 11,000.
KPB/PCB lost its parliamentary presence in 1985.
In 1989 KPB/PCB was divided into two separate parties, Kommunistische Partij
in Flanders
and Parti Communiste
in Wallonia.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
: Kommunistische Partij van België, in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Parti Communiste de Belgique) was a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The youth wing of KPB/PCB was known as the Communist Youth of Belgium. The party published Le Drapeau Rouge in French and De Roode Vaan in Dutch.
History
It was formed at a congress in AnderlechtAnderlecht
Anderlecht is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region.There are several historically and architecturally distinct districts within the Anderlecht municipality.-Pronunciation:* Dutch: * French:...
on September 3-4 1921. KPB/PCB was formed through the unification of two groups, the Communist Party led by War Van Overstraeten and the Belgian Communist Party led by Joseph Jacquemotte, following a split from the Belgian Workers Party. At the time of its foundation, KPB/PCB had around 500 members. KPB/PCB became the Belgian section of the Communist International.
The party gained parliamentary presence in 1925, as both Van Overstraeten and Jacquemotte were elected MPs.
By 1935 KPB/PCB had 9 deputies in the lower house of parliament and 4 senators. In 1938 it had a membership of about 8,500.
During the Second World War, the party had to go underground during German occupation. After the end of the war, the party was strengthened and obtained 12.7% in the parliamentary elections. The party participated in coalition government with the socialists and the liberals during 1946-1947.
On August 18, 1950 the party chairman, Julien Lahaut
Julien Lahaut
Julien Lahaut Julien Lahaut Julien Lahaut (6 September 1884, Seraing, near Liège, Belgium - 18 August 1950, (Seraing) was a Belgian politician, who died by assassination.-Political background:...
, was assassinated by François Goossens, a Leopoldist
Leopold III of Belgium
Leopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,...
.
In the mid 1960s the U.S. State Department estimated the party membership to be approximately 11,000.
KPB/PCB lost its parliamentary presence in 1985.
In 1989 KPB/PCB was divided into two separate parties, Kommunistische Partij
Communist Party (Flanders)
The Communist Party is a political party in Flanders, Belgium. It was founded in 1989 in the aftermath of the split of the Communist Party of Belgium along linguistic lines. The political secretary of the KP is Jaak Perquy.The KP publishes a newspaper, Agora...
in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and Parti Communiste
Communist Party (Wallonia)
Communist Party is a political party in Wallonia, Belgium. PC was founded in 1989 as the Communist Party of Belgium was bifurcated along linguistic lines. The president of PC is Pierre Beauvois....
in Wallonia.
Chairmen of KPB/PCB
- Julien LahautJulien LahautJulien Lahaut Julien Lahaut Julien Lahaut (6 September 1884, Seraing, near Liège, Belgium - 18 August 1950, (Seraing) was a Belgian politician, who died by assassination.-Political background:...
1945-1950 - Ernest Burnelle 1954-1968
- Marc Drumaux 1968-1972
- Louis Van GeytLouis Van GeytLouis Van Geyt is a Belgian politician.Van Geyt was the last chairman of the Communist Party of Belgium, from 1972 to 1989...
1972-1989
Communist burgomasters (mayors)
- Marcel Levaux (1926-2006), last mayor of Cheratte (Liège provinceLiège (province)Liège is the easternmost province of Belgium and belongs to the Walloon Region. It is an area of French and German ethnicity. It borders on the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and in Belgium the provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant , and those of Flemish Brabant and Limburg . Its...
) from April 1971 to December 1976 (in 1977 this commune was absorbed into ViséViséVisé is a Walloon municipality and city of Belgium, where it is located on the river Meuse, in the province of Liège.The municipality consists of the former municipalities of Visé, Lanaye, Lixhe, Richelle, Argenteau and Cheratte....
), deputy from 1968 to 1981 - René Noël, last mayor of CuesmesCuesmesCuesmes is a village near the Belgian town Mons in the province of Hainaut. The artist Vincent Van Gogh was a resident....
(Hainaut province) from 1965 to 1971 (in 1972 this commune was absorbed into MonsMonsMons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
), senator from 1949 to 1950, then again from 1954 to 1974 - Marcel Mereau, mayor of HensiesHensiesHensies is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 6,698 inhabitants. The total area is 25.99 km², giving a population density of 258 inhabitants per km².-References:...
(Hainaut province) - Elie Hoyas, mayor of Le RoeulxLe RoeulxLe Rœulx is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Le Rœulx had a total population of 7,977. The total area is 42.80 km² which gives a population density of 186 inhabitants per km². The Château du Rœulx, a family seat of the Comtes de Croÿ-Rœulx,...
(Hainaut province) from 1976 to 1982 - Marcel Couteau, mayor of Le RoeulxLe RoeulxLe Rœulx is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Le Rœulx had a total population of 7,977. The total area is 42.80 km² which gives a population density of 186 inhabitants per km². The Château du Rœulx, a family seat of the Comtes de Croÿ-Rœulx,...
(Hainaut province) from 1982 to 1985, deputy from 1968 to 1974 - Henri Glineur, mayor of RouxRoux, BelgiumRoux is a small town in the Hainaut province of Belgium. In 1976 it was incorporated into the larger municipality of Charleroi....
(now a part of CharleroiCharleroiCharleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
, Hainaut province) from 1947 to 1950, senator from 1946 to 1954 - René Mathy, last mayor of Vyle-et-Tharoul (in 1977 this commune was absorbed into MarchinMarchinMarchin is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. On January 1, 2006 Marchin had a total population of 5,114. The total area is 30.00 km² which gives a population density of 170 inhabitants per km²....
, Liège provinceLiège (province)Liège is the easternmost province of Belgium and belongs to the Walloon Region. It is an area of French and German ethnicity. It borders on the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and in Belgium the provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant , and those of Flemish Brabant and Limburg . Its...
) - Paul Carette, mayor of Warchin (in 1977 this commune was absorbed into TournaiTournaiTournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
, Hainaut province)