The Radical-CEDA Biennium: Political Instability and Reform Reversal (1933-1936)

The Radical-CEDA Biennium (1933–1936)

The period between November 1933 and February 1936, known as the Radical-CEDA Biennium or the Rectifier, marked a significant shift in the Second Spanish Republic. This era was defined by intense political instability and the systematic reversal of previous reformist policies.

Political Instability and Cabinet Turnover

A defining feature of this stage was the difficulty in forming stable governments, evidenced by the appointment of 10 cabinet ministers in just over two years. The ambiguity surrounding the Republic's future complicated the formation of a cohesive system. By October 1934, the government was dominated by the Radical Party, typically chaired by Alejandro Lerroux, though it relied on the support of the CEDA (the center-right coalition) to which the Republicans made numerous concessions. Eventually, the inclusion of CEDA members in the government became unavoidable.

Internal Divisions and Corruption

The government faced severe internal challenges:

• Internal Fragmentation: Diego Martínez Barrio, dissatisfied with Lerroux's rightward shift, withdrew his support.
• Corruption Scandals: In late 1935, a series of scandals damaged Lerroux's personal prestige and discredited the Radical Party.
• Executive Deadlock: Gil Robles demanded full executive powers, but President Alcalá-Zamora refused. Consequently, no Republican cabinet could last more than a few months, leading to the dissolution of the Cortes and the calling of new elections in February 1936.

Reversal of Reformist Policies

The governments of this period focused on curbing or canceling the measures of the previous biennium:

• Land Reform: Projects were almost entirely paralyzed after 1934, and decrees benefiting agricultural workers were revoked.
• Labor Repression: The UGT staged a general strike in June 1934 in protest, which was met with brutal government repression aimed at destroying organized labor in rural areas.
• Autonomy and Regionalism: Catalan autonomy was significantly slowed, and the progressive Contracts Act (1934) was declared unconstitutional. Furthermore, the Basque and Galician statutes were not processed, pushing regional nationalists toward alliances with Socialists and Left Republicans.

Failure of Democratic Alternatives

Attempts at moderate reform, such as those proposed by Manuel Jiménez Fernández regarding agricultural policy or Joaquín Chapaprieta regarding taxation, failed due to a lack of parliamentary support. The right-wing majority consistently blocked, reformed, or repealed progressive legislation. By refusing to revise the constitution and favoring authoritarian solutions, the center-democratic governments failed to provide a viable democratic alternative to the reformist policies of the first biennium.