The Basque Statute of 1937: A Historical Overview

The Basque Statute of 1937

Historical and Legal Context

This legal text outlines the articles of the Basque Statute. Authored by representatives of Basque citizens and confirmed by the central government, it came into effect on October 7, 1937, though its publication in the Basque Country took two days. This law applies to all citizens, particularly those in the Basque Country directly affected by its provisions.

Background and Development

The Basque Statute was not a novel concept. Attempts to establish it during Primo de Rivera's dictatorship failed. The possibility of its approval arose with the 1931 Constitution of the Second Republic, which recognized the right of territories with shared characteristics (past, language, history) to gain autonomy. Following this, the 1931 Lizarra Statute, encompassing Navarre and referencing religion, was rejected due to its confessional nature, conflicting with the Constitution's spirit. A new, secular statute was drafted but delayed by the "black two years," a period unfavorable to autonomy. The central government used the statute's weak support in Álava as justification. Basque leaders sought greater support in Álava, coinciding with a governmental shift to left-wing parties, improving the statute's prospects.

Approval During the Spanish Civil War

With the new government formed in February 1936, work on the statute resumed. However, the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July of the same year created a sense of urgency. The statute's approval in October 1936 served both Basque and Spanish government interests. For the Basque people, it was a preemptive measure against the potential loss of autonomy should Franco's forces conquer the region. For the central government, it secured Basque support for the Republic during the war and provided valuable propaganda against Franco's accusations of republican laicism and anti-Catholicism. This was particularly significant given the dominance of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), a Catholic, right-wing party, in the Basque Country.