Primo de Rivera's 1923 Coup Justification: Analysis and Context
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Primo de Rivera
This political text justifies the 1923 coup d'état and criticizes Spanish politicians. The author is Miguel Primo de Rivera, military dictator of Spain (1923-1930), father of José Antonio Primo de Rivera (founder of the Falange Española). This text, from September 13, 1923 (the day of the coup), was published in The Age (Madrid). It addresses the Spanish people and the army, explaining the coup's necessity.
First Paragraph: Attacks the Restoration's political system, advocating for drastic measures and a military dictatorship. Primo de Rivera claims the coup was unavoidable due to Spain's catastrophic situation, referencing the crisis of 1898 (loss of colonies).
Second Paragraph: Criticizes turnismo, the system where Liberal and Conservative parties alternated power. He argues this system, which even implicated the king, caused Spain's ruin. "Among themselves" refers to these parties.
Third Paragraph: Outlines his objectives, stating he won't tolerate uprisings against his dictatorship ("enough of tame rebellion"). "We will now collect all the responsibilities" means holding those responsible for Spain's state accountable and establishing governance. The monarchy supported the coup.
Fourth Paragraph: Lists the problems necessitating the coup:
- Violence (murders of "prelates, former governors, law enforcement officers," referring to Barcelona's gangsterism)
- Economic issues (currency depreciation, corruption – "revelry of millions of reserved expenses," dubious tariffs)
- Political intrigue (using the Morocco tragedy – the Annual Disaster – as a pretext)
- Weak economy ("precarious and ruinous agricultural and industrial production")
- Social problems ("impiety and lack of culture" – illiteracy)