the general election in 1890 was an extraordinary triumph for crispi. out of 508 deputies, 405 sided with the government. but already in october, the first signs of a political crisis grew up. the emperor menelik had contested the italian text of the wuchale treaty, stating that it did not oblige ethiopia to be an italian protectorate. menelik informed the foreign press and the scandal erupted. few days after the finance minister and long-time crispi's main political rival, giovanni giolitti, abandoned the government.