| Country: | Belgium |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Previous Election: | 1896 Belgian general election |
| Previous Year: | 1896 |
| Next Election: | 1900 Belgian general election |
| Next Year: | 1900 |
| Seats For Election: | 75 of the 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives |
| Election Date: | 22 May 1898 |
| Image1: | Paul_de_Smet_de_Naeyer.jpg |
| Leader1: | Paul de Smet de Naeyer |
| Party1: | Catholic Party (Belgium) |
| Seats1: | 36 |
| Popular Vote1: | 377,275 |
| Percentage1: | 38.49% |
| Leader2: | Grégoire Serwy |
| Party2: | Belgian Labour Party |
| Seats2: | 15 |
| Popular Vote2: | 213,511 |
| Percentage2: | 21.78% |
| Party4: | Liberal Party (Belgium) |
| Seats4: | 12 |
| Popular Vote4: | 177,802 |
| Percentage4: | 18.14% |
| Image5: | 3x4.svg |
| Leader5: | N/A |
| Party5: | Liberal–Socialist |
| Seats5: | 8 |
| Popular Vote5: | 91,947 |
| Percentage5: | 9.38% |
| Color5: | 800080 |
| Government | |
| Posttitle: | Government after election |
| Before Election: | de Smet de Naeyer I |
| Before Party: | Catholic Party (Belgium) |
| After Election: | de Smet de Naeyer I |
| After Party: | Catholic Party (Belgium) |
Partial legislative elections were held in Belgium on 22 May 1898, with run-off elections held on 29 May.[1] Under the alternating system, elections for the Chamber of Representatives were held in only four out of the nine provinces: Hainaut, Limburg, Liège and East Flanders. Thus, only 75 seats out of the 152 seats in the Chamber of Representatives were up for election.The Catholic Party retained their absolute majority.[2]
Notably, Adolf Daens, who was elected in 1894 for Aalst and served one term, was convinced not to run for re-election. His fight for a social Christian Democratic party was opposed by conservative Catholics, especially fellow Aalst MP Charles Woeste. None of the other "Daensists" (Christene Volkspartij) who ran were elected.
A special election in Bastogne was held on 24 July 1898. Henry Delvaux de Fenffe was elected to replace Emile Van Hoorde, who became a provincial senator.
They were the last regular legislative elections under a majority system; the next elections in 1900 saw the introduction of a proportional system.
The newly elected legislature met in regular session on 8 November 1898.
| Province | Arrondissement | Chamber | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Catholic hold (unopposed re-election) | ||
| 1 | Catholic hold | ||
| 2 | Catholic hold | ||
| 4 | Catholic hold | ||
| 3 | Catholic hold | ||
| 9 | Catholic hold | ||
| 1 | Catholic hold (unopposed re-election) | ||
| 3 | Catholic hold | ||
| 4 | Catholic hold | ||
| 4 | Catholic hold | ||
| 2 | Liberal gain from Catholic | ||
| 8 | Socialist hold | ||
| 3 | Socialist gain (from 1 Catholic, 1 liberal and 1 socialist) | ||
| 6 | Socialist hold | ||
| 3 | Socialist hold | ||
| 2 | 1 liberal hold, 1 socialist gain from liberal | ||
| 2 | Catholic hold | ||
| 11 | Socialist (6) and liberal (5) hold | ||
| 4 | Catholic gain from socialist |
Liberals gained two seats from Catholics in Ath, socialists gained a seat from Catholics and a seat from liberals in Thuin, socialists gained a seat from liberals in Huy and Catholics gained four seats from socialists in Verviers, resulting in a total of one seat changing from socialists to Catholics.
. Elections in Europe: A data handbook . Nohlen . Dieter . Dieter Nohlen . Stöver . Philip . 31 May 2010 . Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft . 289 . 978-3-8329-5609-7.