Basque Autonomy: From Fueros to 1936 Statute
Basque Autonomy: A Historical Overview (1876-1936)
In the territory of the Basque Country, a Foral regime had always been in force. However, after the defeat of the Carlists, Cánovas del Castillo promulgated the Law of July 21, 1876, which abolished the fueros (charters) in the Basque provinces.
The Rise of Basque Nationalism
Appealing to traditionalism and demanding the full recovery of the fueros, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) was created in 1895. When the Second Republic was proclaimed in 1931, the new government established the possibility of regions requesting a statute of autonomy.
The Second Republic and Early Autonomy Efforts
In April 1931, municipal elections in Euskadi led to the creation of the Second Spanish Republic. While Republican and Socialist parties won in larger Basque cities, right-wing parties dominated in places like Vitoria and Pamplona. Eibar was the first city to announce the Republic. However, the Basque Nationalist Party did not fully support the Republic, unlike Catalonia’s ERC, leading to different views on Basque autonomy.
In Euskadi, there was disagreement on how to handle autonomy. The PNV and right-wing groups wanted elected councils, while the Republican-controlled provincial governments set up Comisiones Gestoras. The “Mayors for Autonomy” movement, led by José Antonio Aguirre, supported Basque autonomy and gained support from many mayors, except in larger cities with left-wing majorities.
The First Drafts: Euzko Ikaskuntza and the Lizarra Statute
Before the 1931 Constitution, the first draft of the Basque Statute was created by Euzko Ikaskuntza, a group supported by the PNV. This draft aimed to grant autonomy to Biscay, Guipuzcoa, Álava, and Navarre, with strong backing from José Antonio Aguirre. However, the Spanish Provisional Government rejected this plan due to concerns over the Church’s role and its relationship with the Republican government. This draft led to two separate proposals: the Lizarra Statute and the Comisiones Gestoras project.
In June 1931, a new Statute, called the Lizarra Statute, was created by Basque and Navarrese mayors. This project was seen as nationalist, right-wing, and Catholic, and it sought to give the Basque territories greater independence. However, the proposal had issues, including its strong connection to the Church, its method of electing the Basque Parliament based on traditional systems, and its plan to restore the old Basque privileges (the Fueros).
The Comisiones Gestoras Statute
In December 1931, the process for Basque autonomy restarted to align with the new Spanish Constitution. The Comisiones Gestoras, appointed by the Republican government, created a new Statute draft. This version was more democratic, left-wing, and non-religious compared to the Lizarra Statute. It was more inclusive but offered less autonomy. Nationalists supported it, but Republicans and Socialists were less enthusiastic, and the proposal was rejected in Navarre.
The Path to the 1936 Statute
The Comisiones Gestoras Statute applied only to Biscay, Álava, and Guipuzcoa. A referendum in these provinces in 1933 showed strong support in Biscay and Guipuzcoa, but less support in Álava. It wasn’t until the Popular Front’s victory in 1936 that the Statute became a point of agreement between the left and the PNV. However, the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War halted the Statute’s progress.