Primo de Rivera's Dictatorship and the Rise of the PSOE in Spain

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The Fall of Primo de Rivera's Dictatorship

Despite attempts to establish a new regime, Primo de Rivera faced widespread criticism, opposition demonstrations, and even military pronouncements. In a state of political isolation and after losing the support of Alfonso XIII, Primo de Rivera resigned on January 28, 1930. Alfonso XIII attempted to restore the old system of alternating governments (with Berenguer and Aznar), but after the municipal elections of April 12, 1931, the Second Spanish Republic was established.

The Rise of the PSOE

International Workers' Association and Early Influences

The International Workers' Association (IWA), founded in London in 1864, initially encompassed both Marxist and anarchist ideologies. However, after continuous conflicts with the Marxists, the anarchist faction gained control of the IWA. The anarchist movement took hold in Spain, leading to the organization of the Spanish section of the IWA under the leadership of Giuseppe Fanelli.

In 1871, Paul Lafargue, Marx's son-in-law, arrived in Spain with the aim of introducing Marxism to the Spanish international. Due to the strong influence of anarchism, this objective was only partially achieved with a small group of Spaniards who formed the New Madrid Federation. This group was led by Pablo Iglesias, who founded the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) in 1879 during the Restoration period.

PSOE's Ideals and the Formation of the UGT

The PSOE's aspirations included:

  • The abolition of social classes
  • The transformation of private property into social property
  • The attainment of political power by the working class

In 1888, the General Union of Workers (UGT) was established as the party's first labor union, focusing on workers' demands. In 1889, the Second International was formed, dominated by Marxist ideology. It established May 1st as International Workers' Day in 1890, advocating for the eight-hour workday.

The Growing Strength of the Socialist Movement

The Socialist Party continued to gain strength, organizing meetings and a general strike that achieved several key objectives:

  • An average workday of ten hours
  • The abolition of the Truck System (a payment system where workers received vouchers redeemable only at company stores instead of a salary)
  • The abolition of mandatory living in barracks

Understanding the origins of the PSOE is crucial, as it is the current ruling political party in Spain.

The Context of Primo de Rivera's Dictatorship

Political Instability and the Annual Disaster

Primo de Rivera's dictatorship emerged as an authoritarian solution to an increasingly untenable situation. Following the crisis and general strike of 1917, Alfonso XIII attempted to revive the regime through two coalition governments. However, these efforts failed, leading to a return to the practice of alternating governments.

The military defeat at Annual in 1921, which resulted in 13,000 casualties, had a significant impact on public opinion, similar to the impact of the Spanish-American War in 1898. This precipitated the fall of the government, and Socialists and Republicans seized the opportunity to directly attack the King. A committee was formed to investigate the disaster, known as the Picasso Committee, but before its completion, Primo de Rivera's dictatorship began.

The Coup and Consolidation of Power

On September 13, Primo de Rivera seized telephone services in Barcelona and issued a statement announcing the coup. The coup succeeded due to the strong support it received from King Alfonso XIII, a large part of the army, and Catalan businesses. The King's passive acceptance was crucial, as he appointed Primo de Rivera to form a government, who then became a military dictator.

The Military Directory (1923-1925)

The dictatorship, without formally repealing it, suspended the constitution, presenting itself as a temporary solution to the collapse of the Restoration's political system. Its initial objectives were more administrative than political. The first two years of the military directory (1923-1925) focused on restoring public order, as announced in the manifesto. This involved implementing a state of war, persecuting anarchists, and addressing the conflict in Morocco. The army was divided between Africanists and those who wanted to leave, but after an error by Abd-el-Krim, who attacked the French, a strong joint Spanish-French action in Al Hoceima ended the Moroccan conflict in 1927.

The Civil Directory (1925-1930)

From 1925, having resolved the major problems, Primo de Rivera transitioned from a military directory to a more technical civil directory to maintain power. To institutionalize the dictatorship, he created his own party, the Patriotic Union, and a National Consultative Assembly, with the aim of developing a new constitution.

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