The Diet of Galicia and Lodomeria in Relation to the Government at the Dawn of the Constitutional Era in Austria

Abstract

The Diet of Galicia and Lodomeria had no legally binding means to influence the activity of the government. Despite the unsuccessful attempt to strengthen its position relative to the government administration, the Diet used its available powers to affect the administrative actions of the government. The results of these interpellations were varied. In cases where the local interests and those of the Vienna government were divergent, the Diet was not able to persuade the government to alter its policy, as demonstrated by the futile efforts to convince the government to take a more liberal position on the matter of the Polish refugees. However, in cases where the national interest and the political plans of the central government could be reconciled, the actions of the Diet were more effective. The central government cooperated with the autonomous Galician institutions on matters like education or military service.