1946 Dutch general election

General elections were held in the Netherlands on 17 May 1946,[1] the first after World War II. The Catholic People's Party, a continuation of the pre-war Roman Catholic State Party, remained the largest party in the House of Representatives, winning 32 of the 100 seats.[2]

1946 Dutch general election

17 May 1946
Turnout	93.1%
Party Leader % Seats ± KVP Carl Romme 30.8% 32 +1 PvdA Willem Drees 28.3% 29 +6 ARP Jan Schouten 12.9% 13 -4 CPN Paul de Groot 10.6% 10 +7 CHU Hendrik Tilanus 7.8% 8 0 PvdV Steven Bierema 6.4% 6 +2 SGP Pieter Zandt 2.1% 2 0 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Willem Schermerhorn PvdA Louis Beel KVP

Following the elections, the Catholic People's Party formed a grand coalition government with the Labour Party.

Results

Indicated changes in seats are compared to the Schermerhorn-Drees cabinet appointed by Queen Wilhelmina after World War II.

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Catholic People's Party	1,466,582	30.8	32	+1
Labour Party	1,347,940	28.3	29	–3
Anti-Revolutionary Party	614,201	12.9	13	–4
Communist Party of the Netherlands	502,963	10.6	10	+7
Christian Historical Union	373,217	7.8	8	0
Freedom Party	305,287	6.4	6	+2
Reformed Political Party	101,759	2.1	2	0
Protestant Union	32,020	0.7	0	New
Dutch Bellamy Party	11,205	0.2	0	New
Lopes Group	5,537	0.1	0	New
Invalid/blank votes	152,304	–	–	–
Total	4,912,015	100	100	0
Registered voters/turnout	5,275,888	93.1	–	–
Source: Nederlandse verkiezingsuitslagen

Popular Vote KVP   30.81% PvdA   28.31% ARP   12.90% CPN   10.56% CHU   7.84% PvdV   6.41% SGP   2.14% Other   1.02%

References

1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1396 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
2. Nohlen & Stöver, p1413