In February 1896, the government submitted a proposal for fundamental reform of the electoral system.

The so-called Badeni electoral reform kept the curial electoral system, but in addition to four existing curiae (landowners, trade and industry chambers, large and medium farmers, and male city residents who were annually paying at least 10 guilders of taxes), the fifth, general curia, was added.

[3] The elections significantly changed relations in the Imperial Council, with a strong trend in the degradation of the original dominant German Progressive Party being set.

[4] In May 1897 the Imperial Council had 16 political groups and individual parties: After the elections, Badeni tried to negotiate with the aim of creating a stable pro-government parliamentary majority.

However, the government did not last long as Badeni resigned on November 28, 1897 under the pressure from the German nationalists over the language regulations.