The Restoration Period: Political Stability and the Turno System

The Restoration Political System

The political regime was based on the two-party system (Liberal and Conservative) and the alternation of power. Both parties accepted the Bourbon monarchy and the principle of private property.

The Two Main Parties

• Conservatives: Led by Cánovas del Castillo, they represented the Unionist legacy. Their social base included the rural landowning aristocracy, the middle class, and the Church.
• Liberals: Led by Sagasta, they emerged from the Fusionist party (1880) and the Liberal party (1885). They represented merchants, manufacturers, and the heirs of constitutional liberalism.

Both parties accepted existing legislation, while other political groups remained marginalized. The Turno (alternation) involved parties yielding power when they lost the confidence of the King or Parliament, while respecting the legislative work of their predecessors.

The Electoral System and Manipulation

The parliamentary system was often subverted; the government did not depend on a genuine parliamentary majority but rather manufactured one. Once a party assumed power, they dissolved the courts and called for new elections to ensure a favorable outcome.

The Ministry of the Interior

The Ministry determined the candidates who were to be elected in each district, a process known as encasillado. They would coordinate with the opposition to agree on results beforehand.

The Cacique System

Local power brokers, or caciques, controlled specific constituencies through influence or coercion. They acted as intermediaries between the community and the state, particularly in rural areas. By the 20th century, electoral fraud became widespread, including the use of deceased persons on census rolls, vote-buying, and preventing citizens from voting. Consequently, voter participation rarely exceeded 20% due to high rates of illiteracy.

Political Developments (1875–1902)

The period spanned the reign of Alfonso XII (1875–1885) and the Regency of Maria Cristina (1885–1902). The Pact of El Pardo (1885) solidified the agreement between Sagasta and Cánovas, strengthening the Turno system.

Key Reforms and Control

• State Consolidation: Administrative reforms reinforced state control over the military.
• Centralization: Privileges in the Basque provinces were abolished, and the central government gained the power to appoint mayors.
• Restrictions: The 1879 Press Law limited freedom of expression, and university teaching was strictly controlled, leading to the creation of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza.
• Labor Suppression: Labor unions and associations were prohibited in 1874, forcing them into clandestinity.
• Suffrage: The 1878 electoral law severely restricted the right to vote.