Political Evolution of the Spanish Restoration Era

Development of the Turno de Partidos

The first crisis of the system occurred in 1898 as a result of the 1898 Disaster. The Conservative Party ruled from 1875 to 1881 and introduced universal male suffrage for municipal elections. Cánovas returned to power in 1884, but the death of King Alfonso XII led to the Covenant of El Pardo, which aimed to support the regency of Maria Cristina and ensure the continuity of the monarchy.

Under the longer-lasting Liberal government led by Sagasta, a major reform program was driven forward. Key achievements included:

• Approval of the Law of Associations and the legalization of all political parties.
• The abolition of slavery.
• Promotion of a new Civil Code.
• Reforms to the national finances and the army.
• The introduction of universal male suffrage, which increased the number of voters.

Despite these changes, old mechanisms of electoral fraud and corruption prevented the true democratization of the system. The political structure deteriorated due to personalism, as parties depended too much on their leaders, provoking dissent and internal decomposition. Noteworthy figures included Germán Gamazo and Antonio Maura as Liberal Party dissidents, and Francisco Silvela among the reformist Conservatives.

The Evolution of Republicanism

The failure of the First Republic caused republicanism to face the disappointment of its followers and government repression. Moreover, the movement was sharply divided into several factions:

• Possibilist Republican Party: Led by Emilio Castelar, who adopted a moderate trend and agreed to work within the restored system. Castelar served as a deputy for Barcelona, and his party participated in the government and various local administrations.
• Progressive Republican Party: Founded by Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla, who took a turn towards radicalism and did not rule out violent action. He maintained influence within the army and starred in several failed insurrection attempts.
• Centralist Republican Party: Led by Salmerón, it aimed to become the cornerstone of the movement.

In Catalonia, the main force remained the Federal Republican Party of Pi i Margall. After suffering internal divisions during the early Restoration, the situation changed thanks to the rise of Jaume Ribot in the party leadership, who gave the program a new federalist impulse. These liberal reforms eventually encouraged the formation of the Republican Union, which combined features of several moderate trends. This union became a minority in the courts but had to cope with the loss of its former social base due to the growing popularity of internationalist and socialist ideas among workers.