[3] The elections were called by royal order of 12 November 1857, dissolving the Chamber of Representatives that had convened in a new session only two days earlier.

Going into the elections, Liberals held a majority in the Senate and the Catholics in the Chamber of Representatives.

In the elections for the Chamber of Representatives the result was a victory for the Liberal Party, which won 70 of the 108 seats.

Voter turnout was 79%,[3] although only 90,543 men (2% of the country's population) were eligible to vote.

[2] Twelve of the 108 seats were uncontested, of which the Liberals won three and the Catholics nine.