The Polish Circle in the Council of State in the Habsburg Monarchy – Vienna
Fact of the Polish figure „The birth of Zionism – Chibbat Syjon”
Part of the „The emancipation of minorities” topic
The Polish Circle existed in the parliament of the Habsburg Monarchy in the years 1848-1849 and 1861-1918. It united Poles sitting in the Chamber of Deputies. In the elections at the turn of June and July 1848 99 deputies from Galicia were elected. Their task was to strengthen the Polish cause in the parliament, but this circle ended its activity with the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies on March 7, 1849.
When the parliament was established in 1861, its character changed. There was no longer one chamber, but two, and its members were elected by the national sejms. As in the previous case, this circle brought together many political parties, from the left to the conservatives. Since the January uprising, the majority began to be gained by conservatives supporting the Habsburg cause, which was supported by the receipt of some autonomy by Galicia. The main conditions of membership of the circle was unanimity in voting. Only during the last term of office did the circle begin to go to opposition, mainly because of the withdrawal of the emperor from the act on November 5. The circle ceased to exist in October 1918, and from their representatives was formed the Polish Liquidation Commission, which took power in Galicia on October 31.
