Political Dynamics in Spain During the Restoration

The Political System During the Spanish Restoration

During the Restoration, the Spanish government was in the hands of two dynastic parties, which alternated in power. This "Turno Pacifico" (peaceful shift) meant that the real opposition never succeeded in obtaining a sufficient number of Members of Parliament to form a government or to have a parliamentary minority sufficient to provide for real opposition. Six elections were won by Conservatives and four by Liberals. The Turno worked with some regularity until the impact of the crisis eroded the political and dynastic parties.

The Conservative and Liberal Parties

The Conservative Party remained in government from 1875 to 1881, when the Liberals were first given access to power. Although Liberal reformist ideas were not applied in their first years in office, Sagasta's reform program had its chance in the long run. The fear of a possible destabilization of the political system after the death of the King gave impetus to Conservatives and Liberals to agree. This "brown pact" led to a Liberal government that allowed the system to ensure continuity.

The new Liberal government undertook a series of reforms with the intention of incorporating some of the rights and practices associated with the liberal ideals of the revolution of 1868. The system margin of the Restoration of political life extended to large sections of society.

For this, it raised a double strategy:

• First, to incorporate into the game the more easygoing political factions of the opposition, creating or reducing their space in Parliament.
• Secondly, to marginalize the most radical elements of the system.

Carlism and Republicanism

Carlism

Carlists faced the Restoration after their failure in the war. Many went into exile in France, and plots were hatched. Defeated militarily, Carlism presented itself to the public as the only authentically Catholic political force and found some support.

Republicanism

Republicanism, the great defeated party by the military coup, faced the disappointment of its followers, strong repression by the political authorities, and internal differences. A small, "posibilista" part, directed by Emilio Castelar, founded a party and chose to enter the political game of the Restoration, accepting a token role. Radicals formed the nuclei of the more progressive Republican Party, led by Ruiz Zorrilla. The rest of Republicanism was organized around the federalist Salmeron, as he remained under the influence of Pi i Maragall.

Republicans rallied to recover from their electoral defeat. In the elections, when for the first time during the Restoration there was a major Republican minority in the courts, the Republican Union was created, grouping federal centralists and progressives.