1868 Zollparlament election

1868 German federal election

February & March 1868
85 of the 382 seats in the Zollparlament 192 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   150x150px DKP DRP Leader Rudolf von Bennigsen Eduard Georg von Bethusy-Huc (nominal) Party NLP Conservative Party (Prussia) DRP Leader since 1867 1866 Last election 18.02%, 80 seats 20.92%, 66 seats 8.95%, 36 seats Seats won 26 15 0 Seats after 104 65 37   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Kl 150x150px AltL Leader Benedict Waldeck Party Clericals DFP Old Liberals Leader since 1867 Last election 2.09%, 8 seats 12.64%, 32 seats 4.69%, 15 seats Seats won 28 0 0 Seats after 36 31 18
450px Map of results (by constituencies)
President of the Reichstag before election Eduard von Simson Independent President of the Zollparlament after election Eduard von Simson Independent

Elections to the Zollparlament of the German Zollverein were held in February and March 1868. The Zollparlament consisted of the members of the Reichstag of the North German Confederation and members from the South German states. Those South German members were elected in these elections, the North Germans were the Reichstag members elected the previous year.

In total, 85 South Germans were elected: 48 from Bavaria, 14 from Baden, six from Hesse-Darmstadt (additionally to the three Reichstag members in the province of Upper Hesse), and 17 from Württemberg. Most of the South German Zollparlament members were anti-Prussian regionalists. The outcome of the elections did not encourage Bismarck to take advantage of the Zollparlament as a vehicle for the politician unification of Germany.