the election took place in a political crisis known as the second school war. the outgoing anti-clerical "purple" government of the socialist and liberal party, led by achille van acker, reversed policies of the previous catholic-led government regarding private schools. the van acker government lost the election, leading to again a catholic government led by gaston eyskens. that government, which was a few seats short of a majority in the chamber, would be the last single-party government in belgian history. later in 1958, the school war was ended by a cross-party agreement and the liberal party joined the government.