Primo de Rivera's Dictatorship: Spain's 1920s Transformation

Economic Policies and State Monopolies

With regard to monopolies, the CAMPSA company (Compañía Arrendataria del Monopolio de Petróleos S.A.) was established in 1927 through the Petroleum Monopoly Act of 1927. Its role was to administer the state oil monopoly, promoted by Finance Minister Calvo Sotelo. Originally, it was a joint venture with minority state participation. This period also saw increased taxes for the wealthy and the provision of subsidies to private companies.

Consolidation of Power and Civilian Rule

Having achieved his initial objectives, Primo de Rivera, instead of stepping down, consolidated his power. He initiated a civilian board stage, appointing civilians to public office, effectively replacing military personnel with a civilian facade. Conscious of the need for a social base to support his government, Primo de Rivera created the Patriotic Union in 1924, a party loyal to him and the only one authorized. In 1925, he established the Civil Directorate, composed of more civilians than military officials.

This period saw a continuation of reforms, with Calvo Sotelo proposing progressive taxation to eliminate tax evasion, and Aunos (Minister of Labor) establishing joint committees, which were unions allied with both employers and workers.

Ideology and Governance Structure

While Primo de Rivera admired Mussolini's Italian model, his ideology was not strictly fascist. Though authoritarian and relentless in eliminating political opponents, his philosophy was a combination of:

• Spanish nationalism
• Catholicism
• Traditional paternalistic social conservatism

In 1927, he established the National Assembly, a consultative parliament designed to advise the dictator. Its members included representatives from the Patriotic Union, military officials, prominent bankers, and other supporters. A draft Constitution emerged in 1929, proposing a unitary, corporatist, centralized, and Catholic state model. However, this project was never implemented as the dictator had already begun to lose crucial support, leading to his eventual departure from Spain.

The Decline and Fall of the Dictatorship

During the final phase of his dictatorship, Primo de Rivera rapidly lost all support. He was compelled to leave Spain. His decision to increase taxes to fund public works alienated the bourgeoisie and aristocrats, who opposed these measures. Workers, who initially supported the dictator due to employment and wages, withdrew their favor following the 1929 Crack Crisis, which originated in the U.S. and severely impacted the economy.

Within the military, his defense of merit-based promotions caused significant disagreement, particularly among the infantry. Intellectuals, largely liberals, resented the lack of freedom and Primo de Rivera's desire for a crackdown, further eroding his support. Consequently, the dictator lost all his backing. He submitted his resignation to King Alfonso XIII, went into exile in France, and died shortly after from cancer.