The Belgian elections in connexion with the biennial retire- ment
of half the Members of the Senate and Chamber were held last Sunday, and passed off quietly except at St. Nicholas, where there was a struggle between the police and the Socialists, and many people were injured. The Clerical majority in the Chamber was reduced from twelve to eight. The new Chamber will consist of eighty-seven Clericals, forty-two Liberals, one Christian Democrat, and thirty-six Socialists. The feature of the elections was the success of the Socialists, who have won five seats. The Clerical majority had hoped to maintain their position. Altogether, as the Times correspondent says, the result of the elections is un- expected and may be far-reaching. It is difficult to predict what the effect upon Belgian politics will be ; but as the Government retains a majority, even though a reduced one, and several questions besides the annexation of the Congo were before the electors, the result may not influence the annexation movement so much as might at first sight appear to be likely.
