West Flanders (Chamber of Representatives constituency)
West Flanders is one of the 11 multi-member constituencies of the Chamber of Representatives, the lower house of the Belgian Federal Parliament, the national legislature of Belgium. The constituency was established in 2003 following the re-organisation of constituencies across Belgium along provincial lines. It is conterminous with the province of West Flanders. The constituency currently elects 16 of the 150 members of the Chamber of Representatives using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2024 federal election the constituency had 952,999 registered electors.
Electoral system
West Flanders currently elects 16 of the 150 members of the Chamber of Representatives using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. Seats are allocated using the D'Hondt method. Only parties that reach the 5% threshold in the constituency compete for seats.Electors may vote for the list or for individual candidates, either main candidates or substitute candidates or a combination, on the list. They may vote for as many candidates as there are seats in the constituency. Split-ticket voting is not permitted and will result in the ballot paper being invalidated. The minimum number of votes a candidate must obtain to get elected - the quotient - is calculated as the total votes received by the party divided by the number of seats in the constituency plus one. Half the ballot papers where there are no votes for main candidates are redistributed amongst main candidates in the order they appear on the ballot paper so that the candidate's total votes equals the quotient. The seats won by the party are then allocated to the candidates with the most number of total votes.
Election results
Detailed
2024
Results of the 2024 federal election held on 9 June 2024:The following candidates were elected:
Jean-Marie Dedecker, 58,603 votes; Franky Demon, 15,199 votes; Melissa Depraetere, 63,917 votes; Maaike De Vreese, 18,512 votes; Natalie Eggermont, 9,224 votes; Annick Lambrecht, 10,263 votes; Nathalie Muylle, 37,115 votes; Kurt Ravyts, 8,410 votes; Axel Ronse, 13,323 votes; Jeroen Soete, 7,454 votes; Dominiek Spinnewyn-Sneppe, 10,122 votes; Matti Vandemaele, 5,357 votes; Vincent Van Quickenborne, 14,438 votes; Kristien Verbelen, 10,532 votes; Charlotte Verkeyn, 11,500 votes; and Wouter Vermeersch, 35,200 votes.
Substitutions:
- Melissa Depraetere was appointed to the regional government and was substituted by Axel Weydts on 3 October 2024.
2019
Results of the 2019 federal election held on 26 May 2019:The following candidates were elected:
Björn Anseeuw, 13,202 votes; Hendrik Bogaert, 48,421 votes; John Crombez, 55,678 votes; Jean-Marie Dedecker, 40,781 votes; Wouter De Vriendt, 14,596 votes; Franky Demon, 18,221 votes; Melissa Depraetere, 12,601 votes; Nathalie Dewulf, 11,593 votes; Yngvild Ingels, 13,131 votes; Sander Loones, 44,070 votes; Nathalie Muylle, 23,067 votes; Kurt Ravyts, 9,567 votes; Dominiek Spinnewyn-Sneppe, 10,654 votes; Vincent Van Quickenborne, 40,292 votes; Kathleen Verhelst, 11,533 votes; and Wouter Vermeersch, 31,127 votes.
Substitutions:
- John Crombez resigned on 17 September 2020 and was substituted by Vicky Reynaert on the same day.
2014
Results of the 2014 federal election held on 25 May 2014:The following candidates were elected:
Hendrik Bogaert, 58,649 votes; An Capoen, 15,636 votes; Koenraad Degroote, 17,699 votes; Franky Demon, 16,394 votes; Roel Deseyn, 20,413 votes; Wouter De Vriendt, 14,700 votes; Daphné Dumery, 21,007 votes; Rita Gantois, 14,696 votes; Sabien Lahaye-Battheu, 17,640 votes; Nathalie Muylle, 25,767 votes; Alain Top, 9,572 votes;Johan Vande Lanotte, 68,898 votes; Ann Vanheste, 12,149 votes; Vincent Van Quickenborne, 38,896 votes; Jan Vercammen, 15,782 votes; and Brecht Vermeulen, 37,005 votes.
2010
Results of the 2010 federal election held on 13 June 2010:The following candidates were elected:
Hendrik Bogaert, 37,095 votes; Manu Beuselinck, 10,466 votes; Geert Bourgeois, 45,848 votes; Stefaan De Clerck, 43,946 votes; Jean-Marie Dedecker, 32,514 votes; Koenraad Degroote, 11,145 votes; Wouter De Vriendt, 11,302 votes; Daphné Dumery, 13,717 votes; Sabien Lahaye-Battheu, 13,394 votes; Renaat Landuyt, 38,216 votes; Yves Leterme, 101,830 votes; Peter Logghe, 10,563 votes; Nathalie Muylle, 26,116 votes; Ann Vanheste, 7,883 votes; Myriam Vanlerberghe, 14,195 votes; and Vincent Van Quickenborne, 45,196 votes.
Substitutions:
- Geert Bourgeois was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Bert Maertens between 20 July 2010 and 6 November 2012.
- Hendrik Bogaert was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Roel Deseyn between 7 December 2011 and 14 December 2011; by Bercy Slegers between 15 December 2011 and 8 October 2013; and by Gerda Mylle from 8 October 2013.
- Yves Leterme resigned on 14 December 2011 and was substituted by Roel Deseyn on 15 December 2011.
- Manu Beuselinck resigned on 6 November 2012 and was substituted by Bert Maertens on 7 November 2012.
- Geert Bourgeois resigned on 8 November 2012 after he was appointed to the government of Flemish Minister-President Kris Peeters and was substituted by Cathy Coudyser.
- Myriam Vanlerberghe resigned on 1 December 2012 and was substituted by Rosaline Mouton on 6 December 2012.
- Stefaan De Clerck resigned on 8 October 2013 and was substituted by Bercy Slegers on the same day.
2007
Results of the 2007 federal election held on 10 June 2007:The following candidates were elected:
Hendrik Bogaert, 87,658 votes; Agnes Bruyninckx-Vandenhoudt, 8,387 votes; Koen Bultinck, 19,344 votes; Stefaan De Clerck, 54,243 votes; Jean-Marie Dedecker, 51,120 votes; Els De Rammelaere, 21,324 votes; Roel Deseyn, 30,309 votes; Wouter De Vriendt, 8,233 votes; Dalila Douifi, 13,559 votes; Luc Goutry, 39,684 votes; Sabien Lahaye-Battheu, 13,908 votes; Renaat Landuyt, 38,216 votes; Nathalie Muylle, 35,067 votes; Bart Tommelein, 13,220 votes; Vincent Van Quickenborne, 54,968 votes; and Ulla Werbrouck, 11,745 votes.
Substitutions:
- Agnes Bruyninckx-Vandenhoudt resigned on 19 June 2007 and was substituted by Peter Logghe.
- Vincent Van Quickenborne was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Sofie Staelraeve between 20 March 2008 and 1 July 2009.
- Stefaan De Clerck was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Patrick De Groote on 30 December 2008.
- Bart Tommelein resigned on 30 June 2009 and was substituted by Sofie Staelraeve on 2 July 2009.
- Ulla Werbrouck resigned on 30 June 2009 and was substituted by Paul Vanhie on 2 July 2009.
- Vincent Van Quickenborne was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Roland Defreyne on 2 July 2009.
2003
Results of the 2003 federal election held on 18 May 2003:The following candidates were elected:
Geert Bourgeois, 30,976 votes; Koen Bultinck, 7,406 votes; Stefaan De Clerck, 98,671 votes; Philippe De Coene, 15,750 votes; Roel Deseyn, 19,918 votes; Dalila Douifi, 17,009 votes; Luc Goutry, 28,381 votes; Sabien Lahaye-Battheu, 15,419 votes; Renaat Landuyt, 43,985 votes; Pierre Lano, 17,294 votes; Yves Leterme, 70,254 votes; Trees Pieters, 23,556 votes; Bart Tommelein, 10,572 votes; Johan Vande Lanotte, 89,950 votes; Frank Vanhecke, 36,150 votes; and Marc Verwilghen, 59,220 votes.
Substitutions:
- Frank Vanhecke was elected to the Senate and was substituted by Frieda Van Themsche on 21 May 2003.
- Stefaan De Clerck was elected to the Senate and was substituted by Hendrik Bogaert on 21 May 2003.
- Renaat Landuyt resigned on 4 June 2003 after he was appointed to the government of Flemish Minister-President Bart Somers and was substituted by Geert Lambert.
- Johan Vande Lanotte was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Patrick Lansens between 14 July 2003 and 16 October 2005.
- Marc Verwilghen was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Vincent Van Quickenborne between 14 July 2003 and 29 July 2004; Miguel Chevalier from 30 July 2004.
- Yves Leterme resigned on 6 July 2004 and was substituted by Nathalie Muylle on 8 July 2004.
- Geert Bourgeois resigned on 22 July 2004 and was substituted by Patrick De Groote on 30 July 2004.