Limburg (Chamber of Representatives constituency)

Limburg (Limbourg) 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 as Hasselt-Tongeren-Maaseik (Hasselt-Tongres-Maaseik) in 1995 following the fourth Belgian state reform. It was renamed Limburg in 2003 following the re-organisation of constituencies across Belgium along provincial lines. It is conterminous with the province of Limburg. The constituency currently elects 12 of the 150 members of the Chamber of Representatives using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2019 federal election the constituency had 646,503 registered electors.

Electoral system
Limburg currently elects 12 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. Since 2003 only parties that reach the 5% threshold in the constituency compete for seats.

Electors may vote for the list (party) 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 (panachage) 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 (i.e. the elector has voted for the list or for substitute candidates only) are redistributed amongst main candidates in the order they appear on the ballot paper so that the candidate's total votes (personal votes plus redistributed votes) equals the quotient. The seats won by the party are then allocated to the candidates with the most number of total votes.

Summary
(Figures in italics represent alliances.)

2019
Results of the 2019 federal election held on 26 May 2019:

The following candidates were elected: Wouter Beke (CD&V), 46,940 votes; Barbara Creemers (Groen), 8,070 votes; Zuhal Demir (N-VA), 61,444 votes; Patrick Dewael (Open Vld), 25,070 votes; Nawal Farih (CD&V), 12,323 votes; Frieda Gijbels (N-VA), 14,722 votes; Erik Gilissen (VB), 9,733 votes; Meryame Kitir (SP.A), 31,816 votes; Annick Ponthier (VB), 27,492 votes; Wouter Raskin (N-VA), 14,734 votes; Frank Troosters (VB), 11,618 votes; and Kris Verduyckt (SP.A), 8,926 votes.

Substitutions:
 * Zuhal Demir (N-VA) was appointed to the Flemish Government and was substituted by Joy Donné (N-VA) between 3 October 2019 and 30 June 2022; and by Mieke Claes (N-VA) from 30 June 2022.

2014
Results of the 2014 federal election held on 25 May 2014:

The following candidates were elected: Wouter Beke (CD&V), 59,291 votes; Patrick Dewael (Open Vld), 27,155 votes; Karolien Grosemans (N-VA), 25,400 votes; Veerle Heeren (CD&V), 25,317 votes; Werner Janssen (N-VA), 13,532 votes; Meryame Kitir (SP.A), 17,723 votes; Nele Lijnen (Open Vld), 14,154 votes; Peter Luykx (N-VA), 16,686 votes; Raf Terwingen (CD&V), 26,838 votes; Steven Vandeput (N-VA), 41,211 votes; Peter Vanvelthoven (SP.A), 36,934 votes; and Veerle Wouters (N-VA), 18,012 votes.

Substitutions:
 * Steven Vandeput (N-VA) was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Wouter Raskin (N-VA) on 14 October 2014.

2010
Results of the 2010 federal election held on 13 June 2010:

The following candidates were elected: Ivo Belet (CD&V), 25,874 votes; Frieda Brepoels (N-VA), 43,729 votes; Patrick Dewael (Open Vld), 24,497 votes; Karolien Grosemans (N-VA), 16,949 votes; Ingrid Lieten (SP.A), 23,205 votes; Jan Peumans (N-VA), 31,180 votes; Annick Ponthier (VB), 7,682 votes; Bert Schoofs (VB), 18,726 votes; Raf Terwingen (CD&V), 32,009 votes; Steven Vandeput (N-VA), 13,373 votes; Liesbeth Van der Auwera (CD&V), 17,939 votes; and Peter Vanvelthoven (SP.A), 27,221 votes.

Substitutions:
 * Ingrid Lieten (SP.A) resigned on 17 June 2010 and was substituted by Meryame Kitir (SP.A) on 6 July 2010.
 * Jan Peumans (N-VA) resigned on 22 June 2010 and was substituted by Peter Luykx (N-VA) on 6 July 2010.
 * Ivo Belet (CD&V) resigned on 30 June 2010 and was substituted by Gerald Kindermans (CD&V) on 6 July 2010.
 * Frieda Brepoels (N-VA) resigned on 1 July 2010 and was substituted by Veerle Wouters (N-VA) on 6 July 2010.

2007
Results of the 2007 federal election held on 10 June 2007:

The following candidates were elected: Hilde Claes (SP.A-Spirit), 19,686 votes; Patrick Dewael (Open Vld), 41,544 votes; Gerald Kindermans (CD&V-N-VA), 23,854 votes; Meryame Kitir (SP.A-Spirit), 12,443 votes; Jan Peumans (CD&V-N-VA), 20,257 votes; Johan Sauwens (CD&V-N-VA), 32,245 votes; Bert Schoofs (VB), 27,197 votes; Liesbeth Van der Auwera (CD&V-N-VA), 29,620 votes; Jo Vandeurzen (CD&V-N-VA), 71,235 votes; Peter Vanvelthoven (SP.A-Spirit), 40,348 votes; Hilde Vautmans (Open Vld), 18,664 votes; and Linda Vissers (VB), 17,806 votes.

Substitutions:
 * Hilde Claes (SP.A-Spirit) resigned on 14 June 2007 and was substituted by Ludwig Vandenhove (SP.A-Spirit).
 * Johan Sauwens (CD&V-N-VA) resigned on 27 June 2007 and was substituted by Raf Terwingen (CD&V-N-VA).
 * Jan Peumans (CD&V-N-VA) resigned on 28 June 2007 and was substituted by Hilâl Yalçin (CD&V-N-VA).
 * Patrick Dewael (Open Vld) was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Bruno Steegen (Open Vld) between 21 December 2007 and 29 December 2008.
 * Jo Vandeurzen (CD&V-N-VA) was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Peter Luykx (CD&V-N-VA) between 21 December 2007 and 29 December 2008.
 * Jo Vandeurzen (CD&V-N-VA) resigned on 30 June 2009 and was substituted by Peter Luykx (CD&V-N-VA) on 2 July 2009.
 * Peter Vanvelthoven (SP.A-Spirit) resigned on 30 June 2009 and was substituted by Peter Luykx (SP.A-Spirit) on 2 July 2009.
 * Linda Vissers (VB) resigned on 30 June 2009 and was substituted by Magda Raemaekers (VB) on 2 July 2009.

2003
Results of the 2003 federal election held on 18 May 2003:

The following candidates were elected: Marleen Beckers-Govaerts (VB), 14,256 votes; Hilde Claes (SP.A-Spirit), 26,314 votes; Patrick Dewael (VLD), 58,164 votes; Theo Kelchtermans (CD&V), 25,906 votes; Karel Pinxten (VLD), 14,885 votes; Bert Schoofs (VB), 24,101 votes; Steve Stevaert (SP.A-Spirit), 130,339 votes; Guy Swennen (SP.A-Spirit), 14,986 votes; Liesbeth Van der Auwera (CD&V), 19,962 votes; Jo Vandeurzen (CD&V), 43,088 votes; Peter Vanvelthoven (SP.A-Spirit), 20,269 votes; and Hilde Vautmans (VLD), 16,448 votes.

Substitutions:
 * Steve Stevaert (SP.A-Spirit) was elected to the Senate and was substituted by Annemie Roppe (SP.A-Spirit) on 20 May 2003.
 * Patrick Dewael (VLD) was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Georges Lenssen (VLD) between 14 July 2003 and 7 March 2006; and by Jacques Germeaux (VLD) from 8 March 2006.
 * Peter Vanvelthoven (SP.A-Spirit) was appointed Secretary of State in the federal government and was substituted by Anne-Marie Baeke (SP.A-Spirit) on 14 July 2003.
 * Karel Pinxten (VLD) resigned on 28 February 2006 and was substituted by Georges Lenssen (VLD) on 8 March 2006.

1999
Results of the 1999 federal election held on 13 June 1999:

The following candidates were elected: Eddy Baldewijns (SP), 30,142 votes; Frieda Brepoels (VU-ID), 20,583 votes; Hubert Brouns (CVP), 18,286 votes; Patrick Dewael (VLD), 55,372 votes; Georges Lenssen (VLD), 11,092 votes; Karel Pinxten (CVP), 31,408 votes; Bert Schoofs (VB), 17,058 votes; Marilou Vanden Poel-Welkenhuysen (VLD), 15,119 votes; Jo Vandeurzen (CVP), 22,216 votes; Peter Vanhoutte (Agalev), 7,087 votes; and Peter Vanvelthoven (SP), 20,920 votess.

Substitutions:
 * Patrick Dewael (VLD) resigned on 14 July 1999 after he was appointed Minister-President of Flanders and was substituted by Hugo Philtjens (VLD).

1995
Results of the 1995 federal election held on 21 May 1995:

The following candidates were elected: Hubert Brouns (CVP), 15,621 votes; Lisette Croes (SP), 13,135 votes; Patrick Dewael (VLD), 49,989 votes; Jean Geraerts (VB), 8,995 votes; Chris Moors (CVP), 17,448 votes; Hugo Olaerts (VU), 8,333 votes; Karel Pinxten (CVP), 58,650 votes; Marilou Vanden Poel-Welkenhuysen (VLD), 16,828 votes; Jo Vandeurzen (CVP), 16,034 votes; Louis Vanvelthoven (SP), 40,097 votes; and Ghislain Vermassen (SP), 11,873 votess.

Substitutions:
 * Karel Pinxten (CVP) was appointed to the federal government and was substituted by Maurice Didden (CVP) on 28 June 1995.