Primo de Rivera’s Civil Directory: Policy, Opposition & Fall
Primo de Rivera’s Civil Directory (1925-1930)
In December 1925, Miguel Primo de Rivera suggested to King Alfonso XIII that the Military Directory be replaced by a civilian government, marking the beginning of the Civil Directory period.
A National Consultative Assembly was convened in 1927. It consisted of 400 members, elected by limited suffrage, and was charged with drafting a new constitution. This proposed constitution outlined a state lacking national sovereignty and separation of powers. It featured a single chamber, half of whose members would be royally appointed, granting the King significant legislative and executive power. However, Primo de Rivera ultimately opposed this text, leading to the failure of both the Assembly and his political party, the Unión Patriótica (UP).
Economic Policy
Benefiting from a favorable international economic situation, the dictatorship launched a program to promote the Spanish economy, focusing on the industrial sector and infrastructure, although it largely failed to address the agrarian land problem. Key aspects included:
- State Intervention: Increased government intervention and the nationalization of important economic sectors.
- Public Works: Significant promotion of public works, such as expanding the railway network.
- National Industry Protection: The Decree on Protection of National Industry was passed, and large monopolies were awarded, such as the national telephone company (Telefónica) and CAMPSA (the state-owned oil monopoly).
- Financing: These initiatives were financed through so-called ‘extraordinary budgets’.
- Agriculture: The agricultural sector largely remained dominated by large landowners.
Corporate Social Política
The dictatorship implemented a model for regulating labor relations aimed at eliminating disputes through state intervention. This involved integrating moderate labor movements while repressing more radical organizations (like anarchists and communists).
It established National Corporate Organizations (Organización Corporativa Nacional). Their mission was to regulate wages and working conditions, as well as mediate and arbitrate in conflicts. A Labor Code was also created during this period.
Opposition to the Dictatorship
Despite the regime’s efforts, opposition grew from various sectors:
- Political Groups: Republicans, Nationalists (particularly Catalan and Basque), Communists, and Anarchists.
- Military: Dissident sectors within the army participated in conspiracies.
- Intellectuals: Most intellectuals opposed the regime’s censorship and restrictions on academic freedom, which sometimes led to university closures. Student protests erupted, leading to the formation of the influential, republican-leaning student union, the Federación Universitaria Española (FUE).
- Established Parties: The old political parties criticized the dictatorship’s longevity.
The most persistent political opposition came from Republicanism, organized in the ‘Alianza Republicana’, and regional Nationalism. In Catalonia, restrictions on the Catalan language and customs fueled estrangement. The anarchist movement was strengthened with the creation of the Federación Anarquista Ibérica (FAI) in 1927.
The Fall of the Dictator and Republican Hopes
Growing opposition intensified as King Alfonso XIII and his advisors became convinced that the dictatorship now endangered the monarchy itself. The King withdrew his support, forcing Primo de Rivera to resign on January 30, 1930.
General Dámaso Berenguer was appointed prime minister, tasked with holding elections and returning to constitutional normality—a period often called the ‘Dictablanda’ (soft dictatorship). However, the opposition forces quickly organized, culminating in the Pact of San Sebastián in August 1930. This pact united major anti-monarchist groups to plan a transition to a republic, including:
- Constitutionalists
- Republicans
- Catalan left-wing parties
- The PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party)
The pact established both political and revolutionary strategies, creating a revolutionary committee led by figures like Niceto Alcalá-Zamora and Miguel Maura. Notably, the anarchist CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo) did not join this alliance. In December 1930, the committee issued a manifesto explicitly calling for the overthrow of the monarchy.
Berenguer failed to organize the promised elections and was replaced by Admiral Juan Bautista Aznar in February 1931. Aznar called municipal elections for April 12, 1931. While more royalist councilors were elected overall (mainly in rural areas), Republicans achieved decisive victories in major cities. On April 13th and 14th, upon learning these results, massive public demonstrations demanding a Republic erupted. This led to King Alfonso XIII’s departure and the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic on April 14, 1931.