Franco's 1939 Political Responsibility Law and Repression
LAW OF POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES (02-09-1939)
This document is a law written in February 1939 by Francisco Franco. It was published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado and is a first-hand text.
Second Republic and 1936 elections
During the Second Republic, which began in 1931, different elections were held. One of them was in 1936, when the victory went to the Popular Front, a pact that grouped all the left-wing parties. After the elections, Manuel Azaña was appointed President of the Republic and a new government was formed under Casares Quiroga. Soon, plots against the government began because it was not accepted by everyone. The Spanish army launched a military uprising that developed into the Civil War.
Division of the country during the Civil War
During the Civil War, the country was divided into two areas. On one hand, there was the Nationalist zone, created by those in favor of the uprising. On the other hand, there were those who opposed the uprising: the Republicans. The Nationalists were dominant in rural areas, while the Republicans were stronger in industrial regions. However, the Nationalist army was better prepared. As with every war, the Civil War was also brutal. The final result was a devastated country.
Repression after the war
After the war, a huge repression began. Executions and assassinations were frequent throughout the country. Those who opposed the government were often sent to prison; those who were not arrested had no other choice but to go into exile.
The Law of Political Responsibilities
In this text we can see the Law of Political Responsibilities, one of the first measures of Franco's government. It was written with the aim of eliminating any other political party. Franco's government declared that anyone who had backed the Republic or taken part in incidents during the 1934 Revolution would be punished — especially in Asturias, where the strike triumphed and evolved into a true revolution organized by the UGT and CNT. They also created a new organization of the State called the National Movement, which had two parts: the army and a union of Falange and JONS. These bodies were responsible for imposing punishment.
Consequences of the law
- Suppression of political freedoms
- Targeting of left-wing politicians and intellectuals
- Executions, imprisonments, and exile
Conclusion
In conclusion, after this law Franco and his government controlled everything, banning the freedoms of those who were against him and forcing everyone to comply with official policy. Spain became a dictatorship with Franco as dictator. This new government affected left-wing politicians and intellectuals especially because they opposed Franco's policies. Many of them were executed, while others were sent into exile or imprisoned, accused of being a danger to Spain.