Jules Méline Democratic Union Henri Brisson Radical Left Legislative elections were held in France on 8 and 22 May 1898.
[2] 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 Chamber of Deputies 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 instead.
[3] Ultimately, the election saw the defeat of Méline and his supporters: the Radical victory in the Chamber of Deputies allowed Henri Brisson to form a republican government.