Provincial Diet Elections 1861 in Styria

Abstract

Schmerling's government was on the alert when the first Provincial Diet elections after restoration of constitutional life (1861) were taking place. Reactions to the reports, senl to the Styrian governorship by the district offices, show the interest of the government that mostly moderate and constitutionally oriented candidates would be elected. Therefore it tried to incapacitate politically too radical ones. In Lower Styria, the only example of this kind happened in Šmarje at Jelše, where the government directly intervened against the candidate Josef Wrenik. It was obviously satisfied with all the others. The government also didnt intervene against candidates who emphasized national demands a little louder — the "ultra-Slovene" candidate Dr Radoslav Razlag was the only one.