Patronage and Electoral Corruption in the Restoration Era

The Distortion of the System: Patronage and Electoral Corruption

The theoretical model was not matched by political practice. The constitutional operation was deliberately adulterated by its own supporters from the very first elections. Governments were not changed or supported by the courts, but by a very different mechanism.

The Mechanism of Power Relay

When a party lacked experienced management, or when political leaders saw a need for a relay in the enjoyment of power, the Crown suggested the appointment of a new government. The new president was always the party leader who had been in opposition; they received their appointment alongside a decree dissolving Parliament and calling for new elections.

Election Fabrication and Control

The newly appointed acting interior minister would then "fabricate" the election results from the Ministry, awarding seats to supporters or opponents based on pre-agreed arrangements. They proceeded to manipulate elections through an extensive network of "bosses" and authorities spread throughout the country:

• Widespread illiteracy among the population.
• Tight control exercised by local "bosses" and "notables."
• Guaranteed comfortable majorities for the ruling party.

The Conservative Regime

The regime of the Restoration was deeply conservative in political, social, and economic matters. The Crown was revived by a coalition of:

• Conservative politicians
• Businessmen
• Military commanders

They shared a common vision: protecting the social order and property, viewing the monarchy as a guarantee of stability, and equating the Republic with anarchy and subversion. This vision was initially supported by the middle classes, who associated previous years with economic crisis and fear of worker revolts.

Systemic Decline

Over time, the public realized that participating in elections was useless, leading to progressive indifference toward parliamentary rule. By the 1890s, the dissemination of the press and the emergence of new parties began to crack the Cánovas system.