general elections were held in belgium on 26 june 1949. several reforms took effect prior to the elections; they were the first after the introduction of universal women's suffrage; the number of seats in the chamber of representatives was increased from 202 to 212, and from now on, elections for the nine provincial councils were held simultaneously with parliamentary elections. the number of chamber seats and the simultaneous provincial and parliamentary elections would remain unchanged until state reforms in 1993.