page_title: 1912 Belgian general election
section_title: Background
hierarchical_section_title: 1912 Belgian general election / Background
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Charles de Broqueville ministre de la guerre de Belgique
context_page_description: Full general elections were held in Belgium on 2 June 1912.
context_section_description: Catholics had formed the government continuously since 1884. Minister Schollaert had drafted a controversial education law and was forced to resign in June 1911. He was succeeded by a government led by Charles de Broqueville. The education law intended to financially equalise public and private education, which was opposed by liberals and socialists as it benefited private (Catholic) schools. Both opposition parties, united against Catholics, were expected to win the elections. King Albert I intended to switch to a progressive government headed by liberal Paul Hymans. However, the elections unexpectedly increased the majority of the Catholic Party, which won 101 of the 186 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 54 of the 93 seats in the Senate. Consequently, the incumbent Catholic government headed by Charles de Broqueville continued after the elections.
caption: Charles de Broqueville
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