The Conservative Biennium (1933-1935) in Spain
B. The Conservative Biennium (1933-1935)
The general elections of November 1933 gave victory to the center-right parties. The new government focused its political action toward dismantling the reformist work of the previous biennium. The government was structured around two political forces: the Radical Party of Alejandro Lerroux, which shifted to more conservative positions, and CEDA, a Catholic right-wing party led by José María Gil-Robles.
Lerroux’s Government and Reform Reversal
The new government headed by Lerroux began its term by halting much of the previous reformist project. Land reform slowed, the temporary grant of land to peasants was set aside, and employers were granted complete freedom in hiring day laborers, leading to a downward trend in wages. The agricultural sector experienced a climate of revenge: landowners expressed their desire to avenge previous reforms, and peasants responded with numerous strikes.
Conflicts with Catalonia and the Basque Country
The agricultural issue confronted the central government with Catalonia, which remained in the hands of the left-wing Republicans, following the enactment of the Cultivation Contracts Act. This law allowed tenant farmers to claim ownership of the land they worked by paying the owners at rated prices. Catalan landowners sought the support of the Cortes and sent the bill to the Court of Constitutional Guarantees, which deemed it unconstitutional and annulled its effects. The Generalitat government did not accept the annulment and shortly thereafter passed another law practically identical to the previous one. The central government also alienated Basque nationalists by halting the draft Basque Statute.
Counteracting Religious Reform and Military Policy
The government aimed to counter the religious reforms of the previous government by providing a budget for worship and clergy. It approved an amnesty for those who rebelled with Sanjurjo in 1932. In contrast, Azaña’s military reform remained in force, as did the changes in education, although its budget was decreased.
Radicalization of the Left and the Rise of CEDA
The conservative change of government resulted in a radicalization of the PSOE and UGT. Its left wing, led by Francisco Largo Caballero, proposed a social revolution, while the more moderate faction of the PSOE, led by Indalecio Prieto, defended the need to work with left-wing Republicans to stabilize the Republic and deepen the reform process.
The proliferation of disputes and strikes led the CEDA to tighten its political position and demand participation in the government under the threat of withdrawing its parliamentary support. Prime Minister Lerroux agreed to the CEDA’s requests, and on October 5, 1934, three ministerial portfolios were granted to the CEDA.
The October Revolution of 1934
The entry of CEDA members into the government was interpreted by the left as a shift towards fascism, and the reaction was swift. The day after the formation of the new government, a general strike, initiated by the UGT and the CNT with low turnout, took place in major cities. This movement failed due to a lack of coordination and the overwhelming response of the government, which declared a state of war. However, in Asturias, miners staged a social revolution, the result of a prior agreement among anarchists, socialists, and communists. Columns of armed miners occupied mining towns and replaced municipalities with revolutionary committees. The miners besieged Oviedo and formed patrols ready to defend the revolution and confront law enforcement.
The government’s response was swift and brutal. It sent the Legion from Africa to Asturias to suppress the uprising. Eventually, all insurgent centers were defeated. The conflict’s aftermath was bloody, with over 1,000 deaths among miners and 450 among the military, and some 5,000 arrested. The high number of casualties among miners was due to the numerous executions ordered by the generals in charge because of the fierce repression unleashed after the uprising.
The Catalan Republic and its Suppression
In Catalonia, in response to the CEDA’s entry into the central government, President of the Generalitat Lluís Companys proclaimed the Catalan Republic within the Spanish Federal Republic. Low participation from Catalan citizens led to the insurrection’s defeat in Catalonia, where the revolt was more political than in Asturias.
The Catalan revolt was quickly suppressed with the declaration of war and the occupation of the Palace of the Generalitat by the army. Repression was swift, and the government of the Generalitat and the Barcelona City Council were imprisoned. Catalan autonomy was suspended, and the Cultivation Contracts Act was canceled. Azaña, who was in Barcelona, was jailed, and several leaders, including Largo Caballero, were also detained in Madrid.
Consequences of the October Revolution
The consequences of the October Revolution were significant:
- CEDA’s influence in the government grew.
- The Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia was suspended.
- Properties were returned to the Jesuits.
- Gil Robles was appointed Minister of War, and Francisco Franco, Chief of Staff.
- The harsh repression united leftist forces against the conservative government’s policies.
Constitutional Reform and the 1936 Elections
Constitutional reform was Gil Robles’s primary political aspiration. Although both the Radicals and President Alcalá-Zamora favored it, they differed on its scope. However, the proposed constitutional amendment was never voted on due to the government crisis that began in the autumn of 1935.
This crisis was influenced by the lack of understanding between President Alcalá-Zamora and Prime Minister Alejandro Lerroux. Additionally, Lerroux’s Radical Party was hit by a series of corruption scandals, such as the “straperlo case” (a rigged roulette wheel that, through bribery, had been attempted to be implemented in many Spanish casinos) and the misuse of funds by Radical politicians in the government.
The souring political climate and the lack of a parliamentary majority supporting the government’s program necessitated a change in power. Alcalá-Zamora decided to call new elections for February 1936.
The 1936 Elections and the Popular Front
In the elections of February 16, 1936, two clearly opposing political blocs were formed:
I. The Popular Front
- An electoral coalition of leftist parties based on a common agenda.
- Advocated for an amnesty for those imprisoned in October.
- Supported the reinstatement of those dismissed from their jobs due to political retaliation.
- Aimed to implement the reform legislation suspended by the Radical-CEDA coalition.
II. The Right-Wing Bloc
- Formed by different coalitions, including the CEDA, monarchists, and traditionalists.
- The right did not field a single candidate for all of Spain or draft a common electoral program.
In the February 1936 elections, the Popular Front won 48% of the vote, while the right obtained 46.5%. The right achieved good results and increased its strength in the two Castiles, León, Navarre, and parts of Aragon, while the left won the most votes in major cities, the south, and parts of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.