Primo de Rivera's Dictatorship (1923–1930): Military Rule in Spain

Primo de Rivera's Dictatorship (1923–1930)

The dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera began in September 1923. Primo de Rivera, then Captain General of Catalonia, conducted a military coup that met little opposition. King Alfonso XIII accepted the coup and appointed him the first president of a military government called the Directory. The new government seemed to echo a general clamor against the old politics of caciquismo and corruption.

Phases of the Regime

The dictatorship is generally divided into two distinct phases:

1. The Military Directory (1923–1925)

• This phase was intended as a temporary solution where the Prime Minister exercised sole power.
• The state of war was proclaimed.
• The Constitution of 1876 was repealed, and courts were dissolved.
• The administration was militarized.
• The regime showed open disdain for liberal politicians.

2. The Civil Directory (1925–1930)

The creation of the Civil Directory demonstrated the dictator's will to remain in power and institute a stable and enduring system. Primo de Rivera formed a majority government composed of external civilians, including key figures such as José Calvo Sotelo (Finance) and Eduardo Aunós (Labor).

Institutionalization and Support

In 1927, Primo de Rivera convened a National Consultative Assembly. This advisory body was intended to approve a new legal text and expand the regime's social support. The assembly consisted of representatives from the Administration, social classes and occupations, and the representatives of the Patriotic Union (UP).

The initiative was supported primarily by the authoritarian and conservative right, including the country's powerful economic interests.

Key Policies and Achievements

The dictatorship implemented several important measures:

1. Public Order and Security: The regime utilized the Somatén (a militia originating in Barcelona) to fight unions and established the National Tocsin (1923) to control public order.
2. Repression of Catalan Nationalism: The repression of Catalan identity pushed Catalan politics further left, leading to the rise of more radical groups, such as Estat Català, surpassing the influence of the moderate Lliga Regionalista.
3. Ending the War in Morocco: This was the dictatorship's greatest success. A joint Franco-Spanish military offensive began with the decisive Landing at Al Hoceima (1925), effectively ending the long-running Rif War.
4. Labor Relations: Primo de Rivera created the National Corporate Organization (1926), which formed joint committees to resolve labor disputes. This system relied on collaboration with socialists (UGT) and free trade unions, while the anarchist CNT and the Communist PCE were marginalized, persecuted, and outlawed.

Economic Policy and Opposition

The dictatorship benefited significantly from a period of strong economic growth that lasted until 1929.

The regime actively banned or suppressed opposition, which included a diverse range of groups:

• Former supporters of the Restoration.
• Certain sectors of the army (organizing conspiracies like the Sanjuanada).
• Most intellectuals and academics.
• Political dissidents, including Catalan nationalists, the CNT, and the PCE.

Decline and Fall

From 1928 onward, the regime began to decline due to mounting opposition and Primo de Rivera's failing health. In January 1930, the dictator resigned and went into exile in Paris, leaving King Alfonso XIII facing a severe governmental crisis that ultimately led to the collapse of the monarchy.