The past of the Second Republic has abounded in many political conflicts and attempts to stabilise the situation in the country through various alliances and agreements. 1 of the most crucial events of this period was the conclusion of the Lanckoro Pact in 1923. This was an agreement between right-wing parties and centre parties, which aimed to make a unchangeable parliamentary majority and to include governments in Poland. The impact of this pact on the destiny of the country was crucial – it led to the creation of the Chjeno-Piast government and influenced the further improvement of political conflicts.
After regaining independency in 1918, Poland faced challenges related to rebuilding the statehood and shaping the political system. The agreement of forces in the Sejm was very unstable – the home was divided into many groups, resulting in frequent changes in governments.
From 1922 to 1923, the government of Władysław Sikorski ruled, which was based on the support of the centreleft and the Pilsudczyk camp. After the assassination of president Gabriel Narutowicz in December 1922, the political situation in the country intensified, and tensions between the national camp (endection) and supporters of Józef Piłsudski reached a critical point. As a consequence of these conflicts, the government of Sikorski weakened, prompting right-wing and centre groups to take joint action.
Three parties joined the Lanckoron Pact:
- Polish People's organization “Piast” – a peasant group led by Vincenty Witos.
- People's-National Union (endecia) – a organization representing the interests of the national right.
- Christian-National Labour Party – Chadek group.
The main intent of these parties was to take power and make a fresh government that would replace Sikorski's erstwhile cabinet. The decision to conclude the pact was made on 17 May 1923 in Warsaw, in the flat of 1 of the leaders of ZLN, Juliusz Zdanowski. Against the name, the agreement was not signed in Lanckorona, where negotiations were conducted at the property of Senator Louis Hammerling of the “Pearth” which represented this constituency.
The Lanckoron Pact provided for the creation of a coalition government in which the signatory parties were to share power. On 28 May 1923 president Stanisław Wojciechowski entrusted the mission of creating a fresh government to Vincent Witos. It was composed of representatives of the Endedition, Chadecia and PSL “Piast”, which led to the creation of the government Chjeno-Pasta.
One of the key moves of the fresh cabinet was the appointment of the Treasury Minister Władysław Grabski, who attempted to stabilise the economy, but the government faced many difficulties specified as hyperinflation and social unrest.
The Lanckoroński Pact provoked opposition to the Pilsudczyk camp. Józef Piłsudski, who previously served as the Chief of State and had a major influence on military policy, found the fresh government unworthy of his support. His biggest opposition came from the fact that the ruling coalition consisted of groups liable for the run against Gabriel Narutowicz, whose execution in 1922 was a large blow to Piłsudski.
In protest against the fresh Piłsudski government he resigned from the Presidency of the Close War Council and withdrew from political life, settling in his villa in Sulejówek. However, his departure from the current policy was temporary – 4 years later, in 1926, he returned to the political stage, carrying out the May bombing.
Short- and long-term consequences Pact
- Establishment of the Chjeno-Piaste Government – The pact led to the takeover of power by the right and center, resulting in a change of government policy.
- Division of the Polish political scene – The agreement revealed the increasing conflict between the national camp and the wolves.
- Deepening the Political Crisis – Although the intent of the pact was to guarantee stability, the Chjeno-Piasta government rapidly lost support and collapsed, leading to further crises.
- Preparation of the ground for the May bombing – The actions of the right-wing under the pact strengthened Piłsudski's conviction of the necessity of taking power by force, which became reality in 1926.
Characteristics of the agreement:
- National nature of the State: It was established that both state and local government structures should reflect the Polish national character. In practice, this meant that government and local government posts were to be filled only by Poles.
- Strengthening the function of the Catholic Church: The coalitions agreed to increase the influence of the Catholic Church in public life and to include Catholic social discipline in government activities.
- Polishization of the east Borders: Intensification of activities aimed at the Polishization of east areas of the Republic, including through military settlement, was planned.
- The rule of number clausus in education: The rule of proportionally reducing the number of places in higher education for national minorities, according to their percent of the population of the state.
- Agricultural reform: It was agreed to accelerate agricultural land parcels, assuming a division of at least 200 000 hectares per year for a further 10 years. This improvement was to be implemented by buying land at nominal prices or voluntary division by owners.
The signing of the pact resulted in the establishment of the first Chjeno-Piast government under Wincent Witos on 28 May 1923. This cabinet, made up of 14 ministers representing the coalition, operated until December 1923. His fall was due, among others, to the worsening economical crisis, a wave of strikes and a break in PSL “Piast”, resulting in the failure of the majority of the Sejm.
Andrzej Lamecki
