1881 German Federal Election
27 October 1881 · The Imperial Reichstag · 397 seats, 199 for a majority
The dominant issues were protective tariffs and the government's requests for increased taxes. The conservative parties, which supported the government, lost seats, leaving the Reichstag without options for a stable majority.
Chancellor before
Otto von Bismarck
Independent
Chancellor (continued)
Otto von Bismarck
Independent
Largest force
Centre
100 of 397 seats
Turnout
56.3%
The result
| Share of the chamber | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre | Ludwig Windthorst | 100 | +6 | 1.177.033 | 23.1% | +0.3 | |
| DFP | Eugen Richter | 58 | +32 | 645.851 | 12.7% | +5.8 | |
| DKP | Otto von Helldorff | 50 | -9 | 776.436 | 15.2% | +2.4 | |
| LV | Eduard Lasker | 48 | — | 450.166 | 8.8% | — | |
| NlP | Rudolf von Bennigsen | 45 | -52 | 617.752 | 12.1% | -10.3 | |
| DRP | Viktor I, Duke of Ratibor | 27 | -30 | 382.149 | 7.5% | -6.1 |
69 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.