Catalan Autonomy Statute Development and Early Republican Period

Catalan Autonomy

The Catalan Republic within the Iberian Federation, proclaimed by Francesc Macià, lasted only four days. The Catalan nationalists had to renounce national sovereignty and the federal status. In June, a committee met in Nuria and completed the draft project of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia (l'avantprojecte de l'Estatut d'Autonomia de Catalunya). It was approved by popular referendum but suffered delays and significant cuts.

The Statute of Autonomy

The Nuria Statute proclaimed Catalonia's right to self-determination and envisioned the Spanish State as a federation. Catalonia was to be an autonomous state within the Spanish Republic. The draft also contained provisions for the aggregation of new territories, defended the co-official status of the Catalan language, and control over education. However, these provisions proved incompatible with the republican constitution.

The Statute was discussed in the Spanish Courts. During this period, there were intense attacks against the Statute, particularly from right-wing anti-Catalan groups and minorities in the press. The Statute was eventually approved, but it was greatly shortened compared to the original draft. Catalonia was defined as a single region. It was granted legislative powers (civil, administrative arrangements, legal authority, and public order), as well as the right to establish its own schools, although education remained ultimately controlled by the Central Government.

The Government of Catalonia (L'OBL)

The normal period of the Republic was very short. Its capacity was severely limited by the content of the Constitution and the Statute, and especially by the financial dependence on Madrid.

Transfers of Services

Mutual distrust existed between the Madrid government and the Government of Catalonia. Initially, only administrative background services were transferred, partly to resist regional consolidation.

• Transferred Services: Public works and justice.
• Civilian governments disappeared, and the Guardia Civil and Guardia d'Assalt came under the Ministry of the Interior.
• The rise of the right to power halted the transfer of new services.

Actions of the Regional Division

Catalonia was divided into 38 counties or districts organized into 11 regional clusters.

Health and Social Policy

• The Institute against Unemployment (Institut contra l'Atur) forced civil rights for those aged 21 and over.
• The Catalan law on the legal capacity of women was enacted, eliminating marital authority and establishing divorce and the legitimacy of children born outside marriage (natural motherhood).
• Initiatives included vaccination campaigns, reorganization of primary care, and the creation of new hospitals.

Education

The focus was on public and secular schools, with a Mixed Normal School aimed at teacher training and coeducation. A process of normalization of the Catalan language was initiated, including the publication of Dictionaries of Catalan by Pompeu Fabra.