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The Birth of the Second Spanish Republic: 1931 Transition

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The New Regime: Transition to the Second Republic

Following the resignation of Primo de Rivera, General Berenguer intended to restore the Constitution of 1876 and the monarchy. However, Republican, nationalist, and socialist opposition prevented this. In 1930, the Republican parties agreed to the Pact of San Sebastian to overthrow the monarchy.

In the municipal elections of April 12, 1931, the Republican and Socialist coalition won. On April 14, Alfonso XIII left Spain, and the committee of the Pact of San Sebastian proclaimed the Second Republic. Alcalá Zamora headed a caretaker government to initiate a reform program. The government was composed of:

  • Liberal Republicans
  • Left-wing Republicans
  • Radicals
  • PSOE Socialists
  • Catalan and Galician nationalists

The Constitution of 1931

The Constitution of 1931 marked a turning point in the Spanish democratic process by eliminating concepts established in the Constitution of 1876. Key features included:

  • Sovereignty: Defined Spain as a "republic of workers of all kinds," where sovereignty resides in the people.
  • State Structure: Established an integral state while recognizing the right to autonomy.
  • Rights: Guaranteed political, individual, social, and economic rights.
  • Secularism: Established a secular regime with the separation of church and state, including the recognition of civil marriage and divorce.
  • Governance: The head of state was a President, with a clear separation of powers between the legislature (Cortes), the executive (government and president), and the judiciary (courts).

Political Parties in the Republic

The political landscape was divided between those who supported the new state model and those who opposed it:

  • Republican Left: Led by Manuel Azaña.
  • Right-wing and Centrist: Included the CEDA (led by Gil Robles) and the Radical Party (led by Alejandro Lerroux).
  • Anti-Republican Forces: Included the Spanish Renewal, traditionalists (Carlists), and fascist minorities (JONS and the Falange of Primo de Rivera).
  • Labor Organizations: Included the Marxist PSOE, the UGT, and the Communist Party of Spain.

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