1884 German Federal Election

28 October 1884 · The Imperial Reichstag · 397 seats, 199 for a majority

The campaign centered on Germany's nascent colonial policy, which Chancellor Otto von Bismarck reluctantly backed in the hope that it would help his supporters in the conservative parties and among the National Liberals in the 1884 election. They remained well short of a majority, however, and Bismarck had to govern through temporary blocs that he pieced together.