Legislative elections were held in France on 8 and 22 May 1898. The government of

Jules Méline Félix Jules Méline (; 20 May 183821 December 1925) was a French statesman, Prime Minister of France from 1896 to 1898. Biography Méline was born at Remiremont. Having taken up law as his profession, he was chosen a deputy in 1872, and in ...

, who had been prime minister since April 1896, had relied on the support of conservatives, contrary to the convention of republican concentration, according to which no government should rely on the support of monarchists and Bonapartists in the

Chamber of Deputies The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures. Description Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourb ...

if it could not rely on a republican majority. The elections were dominated by the Dreyfus affair, and saw several notable supporters of Dreyfus (

Joseph Reinach Joseph Reinach (30 September 1856 – 18 April 1921) was a French author and politician. Biography He was born in Paris. His two brothers Salomon Reinach and Théodore Reinach would later be known in the field of archaeology. After studying at L ...

Jean Jaurès Auguste Marie Joseph Jean Léon Jaurès (3 September 185931 July 1914), commonly referred to as Jean Jaurès (; ), was a French socialist leader. Initially a Moderate Republican, he later became a social democrat and one of the first possibi ...

Jules Guesde Jules Bazile, known as Jules Guesde (; 11 November 1845 – 28 July 1922) was a French socialist journalist and politician. Guesde was the inspiration for a famous quotation by Karl Marx. Shortly before Marx died in 1883, he wrote a letter ...

) lose their seats. Twenty-two professed

anti-Semites Antisemitism or Jew-hatred is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who harbours it is called an antisemite. Whether antisemitism is considered a form of racism depends on the school of thought. Antisemi ...

were also elected (six of whom were elected after campaigning under the "''anti-juif''" or "anti-Jew" label), including

Édouard Drumont Édouard Adolphe Drumont (3 May 1844 – 5 February 1917) was a French journalist, author and politician, most often remembered for his antisemitic ideology and animus. He initiated the Antisemitic League of France in 1889, and was the founder ...

. Whilst the incumbent governing alliance led by Méline won more seats than any other faction, this victory was short-lived. Due to a combination of factors, such as the ongoing Dreyfus Affair, deputies within Méline's faction relying on support from Radical voters to secure their seats, and the overall strengthening of extremists across the political landscape, Méline could not rely on his own faction to support him. When the

reconvened on 22 June 1898, these fears were realized, after sufficient monarchist and progressist members of Méline's faction broke ranks and voted to support the

Radicals Radical (from Latin: ', root) may refer to: Politics and ideology Politics *Classical radicalism, the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe and Latin America in the 19th century *Radical politics ...

instead. Ultimately, the election saw the defeat of Méline and his supporters: the

Radical Radical (from Latin: ', root) may refer to: Politics and ideology Politics *Classical radicalism, the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe and Latin America in the 19th century *Radical politics ...

victory in the

allowed

Henri Brisson Eugène Henri Brisson (; 31 July 1835 – 14 April 1912) was a French statesman, Prime Minister of France for a period in 1885-1886 and again in 1898. Biography He was born at Bourges (Cher), and followed his father's profession of advocate. ...

to form a republican government.

Results

References

External links

Map of Deputies elected in 1898 according to their group in the House, including overseas
Geoelections Legislative elections in France

Legislative A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the legal authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

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