r/monarchism • u/Over-Willingness-933 • 1d ago
History 1950 Monarchy referendum in Belgium
The Dutch speaking North saved the king in Belgium
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u/jpc_00 United Kingdom 1d ago
This referendum must be seen less as a vote on the monarchy in principle and more as a vote on Leopold in general, given his conduct during World War II. Right or wrong, his surrender to the Germans, against the advice of his government, was viewed by many, particularly in Wallonia, as treason. His return to Belgium in July 1950 triggered a huge and deadly general strike, and he lasted all of 10 days before ceding royal authority to his son Baudouin.
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u/bd_one United States (stars and stripes) 1d ago
How many referendums have we had about whether a specific monarch should rule rather than the system as a whole?
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u/TheHessian64 Observer 1d ago edited 1d ago
After the death of King Alexander of the Hellenes, there was a referendum in Greece on whether his father, Constantine I, should return to the throne.
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u/Barzalone00 12h ago
La verdad es que la monarquía belga es lo único que une a Bélgica, fuera de eso si ese referéndum hubiera salido el no, Bélgica se desintegraria como Yugoslavia
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u/Possible-Wallaby-877 Belgium 1d ago
Um.... No. He still abdicated, despite this referendum