 As a result, in 1857, the Liberals returned to power and Frère-Orban became once more Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Charles Rogier, whom he succeeded to become the 11th Prime Minister in 1868.In 1870 the Catholics regained their supremacy and forced him to retire, but from 1878 to 1884 he was again at the head of the cabinet, most notably breaking off diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1880 (which were restored in 1884).Standing as a liberal again in the October 1894 elections, he categorically refused the support of Catholics against progressives and socialists.