The Conservative Biennium: Spain 1933-1936

The Conservative Biennium (1933-1936)

The government of Azania fell in September 1933; Alcalá-Zamora dissolved the courts and called elections for November 19.

The Right to Power

During the reformist biennium, the Spanish right had time to reorganize itself. Two groups emerged: the Falange and the JONS. In the second group, the CEDA stood out, led by José María Gil Robles.

During the election campaign, the deep division of Spanish society was highlighted once again. Socialists labeled Gil Robles a fascist and announced a social revolution should the right win. The outcome of the 1933 elections was favorable for the right and center coalitions and a defeat for the Socialists. The President of the Republic tasked Alejandro Lerroux, leader of the Radical Party, with the formation of the government.

The October Revolution of 1934

A few months after the triumph of the right, sectors of the PSOE and the UGT prepared an armed insurrection accompanied by a general strike. The justification for the revolt was the entry of CEDA members into Lerroux's government, as leftist parties identified the CEDA with fascism. The insurrection failed, and the main labor leaders were arrested or forced into exile.

Catalonia and the Events of October 6

In Catalonia, after the death of Macià on December 25, 1933, Lluís Companys was elected president of the Generalitat. Social division was also reflected in parliament; the Lliga Catalana left the chamber from January 1934 until October 1 of that year, in disagreement with the government's policy.

During 1934, the parliament passed many progressive laws, including the Law of Crop Contracts. Following the general strike declared on October 5 and the entry of three CEDA ministers into Lerroux's government a day later, President Companys reacted on the evening of October 6 by unilaterally proclaiming the Catalan State within the Spanish Federal Republic. Consequently, the Statute of Autonomy was suspended, and the Generalitat government was imprisoned and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The Work of the Generalitat Government

• Economic Policy: Creation of statistical services and deposit banks.
• Social Reform: Establishment of the Institute against Unemployment, job counseling, and welfare services.
• Medical Field: Reorganization of the primary care system, construction of hospitals, vaccination campaigns, and the creation of health inspections.
• Education and Culture: Construction of new schools and several secondary and professional institutions.
• Women's Rights: Legislation favorable to the status of women; for the first time in Spain, women were legally equal to men in marriage.