The struggle over the changes in the system of elections to the State Duma and the State Council in the western provinces of the Russian Empire (1906–1911)

Abstract

The aim of the article is to study the activities of political parties and public associations of the western provinces of the Russian Empire on one of the most important issues of public and political life – the election of legislative chambers. The beginning of struggle over the changes in the electoral law to the State Duma was made at the congress of the “Union of October 17” on February 8–12, 1906 in Moscow. Activities of the Octobrists of the western outskirts were aimed at limiting the in uence of the Polish landlords and the Catholic church, against granting autonomy to the Kingdom of Poland. In this, they essentially separated from the leadership of the Octobrist party. Around the idea of introducing the principle of proportional election of electors and deputies of the State Duma by nationalities, ensuring the election of at least one Russian member of the State Council from each outlying province, local Octobrists went to an agreement with the extreme right and regional monarchist organizations, forming the Russian Suburban Union. By sending petitions and deputies to Nicholas II, negotiations with P.A. Stolypin, the Octobrists of the western provinces and their allies managed to achieve a change in the electoral law to the State Duma on June 3, 1907, which allowed them to increase the number of monarchist deputies in the lower chamber. In 1908 – 1911 together with other monarchist organizations, the “Union of October 17” managed to solve in its favor the question of “Russian” representation in the State Council from the Vitebsk, Minsk, Mogilev, Kiev, Podolsky and Volyn provinces, as well as to defend Stolypin’s idea of the introduction of elective zemstvos in Belarus and Ukraine.