Spain: Dictatorship, Republic, and Political Fronts
Primo de Rivera Dictatorship (1923-1930)
Coup d’état: Originating from political crisis and social unrest. The aim was to end caciquisme and prevent a democratized political regime. A directory was created with both military and civilian members.
Characteristics
- Economic: State and political interventionism, infrastructure policy, and significant economic success (20s).
- Political: Suspension of the constitution, banning of political parties and unions, corporate imitation of Italian fascism, persecution of Catalan culture, resolution of the Moroccan conflict (Alhucemas landing), and opposition from Catalan nationalists, Republicans, unions, and intellectuals.
Crisis (1930-1931)
Political and social rejection, loss of monarchical support for the dictator, Primo de Rivera’s resignation, and calls for elections.
Proclamation of the Republic
Local Elections (1931)
Triumph of the republicanosocialista coalition, exile of Alfonso XIII, and proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic. The Republicanosocialista government, led by Alcalá Zamora, implemented initial legislative measures and established a pact with Catalan authorities to initiate an autonomous process, leading to constituent elections.
Autonomous Catalonia
Provisional Generalitat
Government of Esquerra Republicana. The Statute of Núria received overwhelming approval, despite opposition from the right wing. Power was curtailed with the adoption of the 1931 Constitution. The Generalitat Status featured leftist Republican governments, with Francesc Macià as chairman. Measures included economic reforms, the Basic Law of 1934, educational reforms, linguistic normalization, and planning in new regions.
Reformist Biennium (1931-1933)
Left Government
President of the Republic: Alcalá Zamora. Head of Government: Manuel Azaña. The 1931 Constitution was democratic and progressive, accepting autonomous governments in some regions, declaring rights and freedoms, addressing social issues, establishing a secular state, and granting suffrage to women. Reforms included limiting the influence of the Church, modernizing the military, establishing autonomy, agrarian reform, labor reform, and educational reform. Problems included an unfavorable economic situation, social unrest, and government crises.
Conservative Biennium (1933-1935)
Center-Right Government
Republican President: Alcalá Zamora. Head of Government: Alejandro Lerroux. Measures included paralysis of reforms, confrontation with the Left (general strikes), the October Revolution of 1934 (proclamation of the republic revolution in Asturias and Catalonia). The government faced crises due to CEDA’s entry into the government, corruption scandals, and the February elections, which resulted in a victory for the Popular Front.
Popular Front
Left Government
President: Manuel Azaña. Prime Minister: Casares Quiroga. Measures and reactions included amnesty for political prisoners, reopening of the reforms of the left biennium, and a climate of social violence fostered by the extreme right.
Political Parties
Left
- Republican Left: Convergence of the Republican Action Party and Radical Socialist Republican Party.
- PSOE: Significant influence among workers, led by Julián Besteiro.
- CNT: Anarchist association.
Right
- Radical Party: Directed by Lerroux.
- Liberal Republican Right.
- CEDA: Electoral coalition created by José María Gil Robles, defending the interests of large agricultural landowners and the Church.
- Spanish Renewal.
- Falange: Directed by Primo de Rivera.
Catalan
- Regionalist League: Accepted republican legality, supported by industrialists and large landowners.
- ERC: Hegemonic party in the republic, grouping radical nationalists, small sectors, and historical old republican and socialist formations.