VII. The Contemporary Period, 1945–2000 > B. Europe, 1945–2000 > 6. Western Europe, 1945–2000 > c. The Low Countries > 1. Belgium > 1951, July 16
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1951, July 16
 
LEOPOLD III ABDICATED, and his son Baudouin became king the following day.  1
 
1952, Jan. 9
 
Premier Joseph Pholien resigned, and a new cabinet, likewise Christian Socialist in composition, was formed (Jan. 15) under Jean van Houtte.  2
 
1954, April 23
 
After an indecisive election (April 11), a Socialist-Liberal coalition cabinet took office with Achille van Acker.  3
 
1958, June 1
 
The Christian Socialist Party won 104 out of 212 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and a Senate majority. Gaston Eyskens established a minority government (June 2) and a stronger Social-Liberal government Nov. 6.  4
 
1959
 
After years of national debate over the role of the Church in education, Parliament passed a law giving each school administrating authority (national government, commune, or church) the right to devise its own curriculum, so long as it met the minimal requirements of the ministry of education. Political propaganda and proselytizing were banned.  5
 
1960, Sept. 2
 
Premier Eyskens organized a new coalition cabinet to deal with the crisis in the Congo (See July 4).  6
 
Nov. 1
 
The Benelux Economic Union Treaty, signed Feb. 3, 1958, came into force.  7
 
Dec. 20
 
Socialist-led strikes, centered in Liège, broke out to protest the government's austerity program, which was designed to compensate for the economic loss caused by Congolese independence.  8
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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