Primo de Rivera’s Dictatorship: Causes, Policies, and Opposition
The Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera
The causes of the coup: The reasons for the unrest included instability, a locked parliamentary political system, the discrediting of electoral fraud, fear among the propertied classes of a revolution, the rise of Republicanism, and the nationalism and discontent within the army after the Annual disaster. In his inaugural manifesto, Primo de Rivera announced his determination to rid the country of warlords and to end political banditry, indiscipline, and threats to national unity. The dictatorship was an unconstitutional solution to halt the possible reform of the system that could be threatening to certain sectors and social interests.
The Reorganization of the State
The dictatorship of Primo de Rivera went through two phases: the Military Board, whose members were military, and later, the Civil Directorate, which included ministers and civilians, although the military influence remained significant. The first steps of the Military Board included the suspension of constitutional rule, the dissolution of the legislative chambers, the removal of civil authorities, and the prohibition of political parties and unions. This was accompanied by the militarization of public order and the repression of the labor movement. The Municipal Statute was developed, and other Provincial councils were dissolved and replaced by appointed members, a move that was part of a great farce of regeneration. During the first stage of the dictatorship, the conflict in Morocco was the focus of Primo de Rivera’s attention. The following year, he organized the Alhucemas landing, which was a great success. In 1927, the Spanish army ended the occupation of Morocco. From 1926, Primo de Rivera’s attempt to institutionalize his regime showed the clear influence of Italian fascism. The path to an authoritarian regime began with the convening of a National Consultative Assembly, completely disregarding universal suffrage. To promote adherence to the new system, the Patriotic Union was created, drawing members from the ranks of Catholicism, officials of the administrations, and rural bosses.
The Economic and Social Policy
The dictatorship benefited from a favorable international economic climate and launched a program to promote Spanish industrial growth. The guiding idea was nationalization and increased state intervention, with the State playing a role in stimulating public works. The government passed the Decree on Protection of National Industry and awarded large monopolies. All of this was financed through extraordinary budgets, leading to a large debt. The agrarian world remained in the hands of large landowners, and the Confederaciones Hidrográficas were created. The dictatorship launched a model for the regulation of work, creating the National Corporate Organization, bringing together employers and workers and regulating labor disputes.
The Opposition to the Dictatorship
The opposition to the dictatorship included dynastic leaders, republicans, nationalists, communists, anarchists, and intellectuals. Sectors of the army and former parties criticized the excessive length of the regime and participated in military conspiracies such as the “John of the Cross” plot. Intellectuals and universities were controlled through censorship and limitations on their freedom. The conflict was the source of the Federación Universitaria Española. The opposition from Republicans was permanent and organized the Republican Alliance. In Catalonia, the measures taken by Primo de Rivera caused a rift even among opposition sectors. The Catalan republican left was more prepared, as distinguished by the group CNT Català. The Estat Català argued against the regime and was persecuted, leading to the creation of the FAI in July 1927.
The Fall of the Dictator
The opposition to the dictator intensified when the king and his entourage became convinced that the dictatorship was a danger to the permanence of the monarchy. The king, therefore, decided to withdraw his confidence from Primo de Rivera, who resigned on January 30, 1930. Berenguer was responsible for a replacement, and the Catalan Republican Left and the PSOE agreed to sign the Pact of San Sebastian. Berenguer was unable to prepare the elections and was replaced by Admiral Aznar. The government decided to convene municipal elections first, but the elections were presented as a plebiscite for or against the monarchy.