Ernst von Plener
Ernst von Plener ( born October 18, 1841 in Eger, Bohemia, † April 29, 1923 in Vienna ) was a leading politician from the Old Austria German liberal camp, Treasury and Auditor-General.
Life
As the son of Ignaz Plener (1810-1908), who as 1860-1865 kk Finance and 1867-1870 in the so -called " citizen Ministry " as kk Trade Minister Cisleithania had proven in the transition from neo-absolutism to constitutional monarchy, Ernst grew from Plener without difficulty in a role as a leading figure in the liberal camp. First, he took over diplomatic assignments in Paris and then in London in 1867, where developed his admiration for the British constitution.
In 1873 he took over from his father, the seat of the Chamber of Commerce in Eger then selected according to Kurien House of Representatives of the Imperial Council and went to the chair of the German Liberals ( constitutional) party. In 1878 he advocated the Austria - Hungary at the Congress of Berlin granted occupation of the Ottoman provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which led to the split in the party.
In the since the mid-19th century enhancing ethnic disputes within the Monarchy decided he represented the German citizens of the western half of the empire ( which were called in the late phase to distinguish it from the " Reich Germans " and " German Austria ").
To reduce the national tensions in Bohemia, located Plener sat for an administrative division of a crown land. He was instrumental in the fact that it came to the division of the local Regional School Board, the country's Cultural Council, as well as the establishment of a German Division of the Higher Regional Court in Prague in the nineties of the nineteenth century. However, further efforts were thwarted by the resistance of the Plener Czech parties who feared a complete rupture of Bohemia.
Its highest function reached Ernst von Plener 1893-1895 as kk Minister of Finance. He led the debate initiated by his predecessor Emil Steinbach reforms, currency reform and personal income tax, continued. After the dismissal of the government in 1895 by the Emperor Plener refrained from becoming active again as parliamentarians. 1895 to 1918 he was president of the Supreme Court shared that the three joint ( kuk ) examined ministries that were responsible for the whole of Austria - Hungary.
In 1900 he was appointed by the emperor in the mansion of the Imperial Council. There he came once more resolutely against the universal, equal suffrage for men because he feared too much influence of the non- German population majority. 1907 his father was charged by the Emperor to the hereditary baron shortly before his death (1908 ); the Son was therefore entitled to take over this ( in the spring of 1919, generally abolished ) title of nobility.
Plener political base, the German liberal camp, one of dignitaries, proved in view of enhancing the national conflicts, the expansion made in several stages of the suffrage for men and the emergence of modern mass parties Christian Social and Social Democrats as too narrow. The possibility of German liberals to draw representatives of the assimilated Jewry in itself, decreased as a result of the intensification of anti-Semitism. Ernst von Plener and his political friends like Ernest von Koerber, kk Prime Minister 1900-1904 and joint finance minister 1915-16, and Josef Redlich, 1918 last kk Minister of Finance, were highly respected men, but ultimately could succeed only as professionals, not as a party politician with power base with the Emperor and with experts.
Ernst von Plener has left memories in three volumes ( 1911-21 Vienna).
Honors
- Dr. phil. ( H.C. ) Wroclaw
- First Class of the Order of the Iron Crown (1895 )
- Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold (1911 )
- Red Eagle Order, First Class
- Legion of Honor