Political Instability and the Rise of the Right in the Second Spanish Republic

The Government Crisis (1931-1933)

The crisis of the Republican-Socialist government was motivated by several circumstances:

Economic Downturn

This stage coincided with the worst of the global crisis that began in 1929 (the Great Depression). This exacerbated the traditional problems of the Spanish economy, arising from unemployment, low productivity, unequal distribution of land, and investments decreased due to mistrust regarding reforms. Furthermore, decreased public spending led to lower investment and lowered the subsidies provided, which was intended to alleviate the debt burden inherited from the former dictatorship.

Social Unrest

The reforms initiated by the Republic were too slow and caused discontent among workers. The left-wing parties and revolutionary unions radicalized their positions. The Communist Party was gaining strength. The CNT, supported by some sectors of the UGT and the Federation of the Earth, encouraged labor unrest. This led to increased strikes, insurrections, and land occupations in Andalusia, Extremadura, and New Castile, where many large estates existed.

The anarchists led riots in several places, which consisted of:

• Abolishing all power.
• Burning the records of property.
• Collectivization of land, declaring libertarian communism.

The subsequent repression was often very bloody, notably at Castilblanco and Casas Viejas (where 12 farmers died). These facts wore down and discredited the government, as they were exploited by right-wing groups.

Reorganization of the Right

Right-wing groups opposed the reforms carried out by the coalition government and the continuing attacks on the Church by the government. The political right reorganized itself:

• The center-right was organized around the Radical Party, led by Lerroux.
• The strong right wing coalesced around the CEDA of Gil Robles.
• Other Spanish groups included Renovación Española (Calvo Sotelo), Traditionalist Communion (Carlist), and fascist parties like the Falange and JONS.

This reorganization helped increase the climate of tension and anti-Marxism among the Right.

The Sanjurjo Coup Attempt

Conservative sectors of the army, led by General Sanjurjo, attempted a coup in 1932, but it failed. This section of the army was organized in the EMU (Spanish Military Union).

The Conservative Biennium (1933–1935)

After the crisis of the Republican-Socialist government, a general election was held on November 18, 1933. These were the first elections in which women voted.

An organized and united right ousted the left, which had fragmented. Gil Robles' CEDA and the center-right Radical Party of Lerroux achieved the highest scores, initiating two years known as the Conservative Biennium.

The President of the Republic, Alcalá Zamora, entrusted the formation of the government to the Radical Party. The Radical Party secured the parliamentary support of the CEDA after agreeing to a pact for the immediate cessation of the reform measures taken by the previous government.