Rada Trzech

The Council of Three (Polish Rada Trzech) was a collegial body created by the Polish Government in Exile in 1954 with prerogatives of the President of Poland. It consisted of three members of the government chosen by the Rada Jedności Narodowej (Council of National Unity), a rump parliament in exile.

It was created in 1954, after president August Zaleski declined to leave his office after his 7-year term ended. According to the Polish April 1935 constitution, which was the legal basis for the existence of the government in exile, the president was allowed to chose his successor "during a war, in case his office is emptied before the peace treaty is signed". The post-war Akt Zjednoczenia Narodowego (National Unity Act) agreement between all the major political parties assumed that the presidents are to chose their successors every seven years, this however was rejected by Zaleski.

Initially the Rada Trzech was a self-proclaimed committee of opposition against Zaleski, but on July 21, 1956 the Rada Jedności Narodowej granted it with powers of the Polish head of state. It was dissolved in July 1972, after August Zaleski died on April 7 of the same year. It ceded its powers to his successor, Stanisław Ostrowski.

Members

The members of the Rada Trzech were:

• General Władysław Anders (until 1970)
• Edward Raczyński (until 1972)
• Tomasz Arciszewski (until 1955)

The seat of the latter was taken by:

• General Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski (1956–1966)
• General Roman Odzierżyński (1966–1968)
• S. Mglej (1968–1969)
• Alfred Urbański (1969–1972)
• General Stanisław Kopański (1970–1972)

See also

• Polish Government in Exile
• Council of Three