The Dictablanda and the Proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic
The Dictablanda
On January 28, 1930, Primo de Rivera resigned, and King Alfonso XIII attempted to redirect the situation by forming a provisional government headed by General Dámaso Berenguer. This was the first step in the transition away from the constitutional regime. Political parties, representing a significant barrier (as dynastic parties had failed), were re-emerging, and the labor movement was revived.
The biggest problem was the Crown itself, which had been too involved in the dictatorship and was now burdened by its failure. The goal of the Dictablanda was utopian. In August 1930, the opposition engaged in a joint strategy against the monarchy: the Pact of San Sebastián. It involved a range of left-wing (PSOE, Republican Action) and right-wing parties. They developed a common anti-royalist stance, agreeing that the dictatorship should be replaced by a Republic. A revolutionary committee was organized to bring about regime change through a military uprising and form the provisional government of the future republic.
Catalan nationalists obtained assurances of a federal and regional Spain, with a revised constitution and restored jurisdictions for Catalonia.
On December 12, 1930, a republican military coup led by Fermín Galán and Ángel García Hernández took place in Jaca (Huesca). This uprising was suppressed by government troops, and its leaders were executed, further discrediting the regime.
In February 1931, the last government of Alfonso XIII’s monarchy, led by Admiral Aznar, called for elections.
Municipal Elections of 1931
Left-wing and republican political forces framed the elections as a referendum between monarchists and republicans. There was a clear polarization between the two sides. The republican forces won in the main cities (41 of 50 provincial capitals).
Republican enthusiasm overflowed, with major demonstrations demanding the proclamation of the Republic. In these elections, the Regionalist League was replaced by ERC (25 councilors versus the League’s 11).
Proclamation of the Republic
On April 14, 1931, the Republic was proclaimed in city councils throughout Spain, and the King decided to renounce the throne. Despite the proclamation’s illegality, the King went into exile in France. Niceto Alcalá-Zamora, a republican and Catholic, took over the interim government.
Francesc Macià proclaimed the Catalan Republic (the first issue of the Republic), envisioned as part of an Iberian Federation—independent but associated with Spain. Macià formed a Catalan government, parallel to the Provisional Government in Madrid. From April 14, there were governments in both Madrid and Barcelona.
A meeting was organized in Barcelona between three central government ministers and Macià. This long and intense meeting resulted in Macià abandoning the idea of a Catalan Republic (deemed too risky) but retaining the Catalan government. The government agreed to develop a statute for Catalonia and cede certain powers.
Constitution of 1931
On June 28, 1931, Constituent Assembly elections were held. Republicans and Socialists obtained a clear majority. The new Parliament’s fundamental task was drafting a new constitution. The most controversial topics, which divided public opinion, were the question of religion and the state’s structure. The Constitution was adopted on December 9, 1931.
- It was a very advanced democratic constitution for its time, with socialist elements. Article 1 defined Spain as a democratic republic (allowing expropriation of private property for public use).
- Power resided in Congress. Universal female suffrage was established, along with a 4-year term for the President of the Republic and a 6-year term for the Congress.
- The Republic was defined as integral, not federal, but compatible with autonomous municipalities and regions.
- Individual and democratic rights were protected (religious freedom, abolition of noble privileges, freedom of expression and assembly, inviolability of the home).
Niceto Alcalá-Zamora was elected President, and Manuel Azaña (a left-wing politician) became head of government.
Political Parties
Spain mirrored the situation in Europe, with three main ideologies: liberal democrats, successors to the old system, but questioned due to the 1929 crash and the Great Depression; communists, materialized by the 1917 Russian Revolution; and socialists (anarchists, Marxists). Fascism arose following the actions of Mussolini (1922) and Hitler (1933). These ideologies, including fascism, were broadly categorized as right and left. The left, as an electoral option, was characterized by strong republicanism (opposing the Bourbon monarchy), a federal reform project, and changes to improve the people’s situation, with ideologies opposed to the influence of the Church, the army, and the established government.