Spain's Popular Front: Formation and Political Impact 1936

The Popular Front in Spain: February-July 1936

Formation and Political Context

In February 1936, elections took place in Spain, following the dissolution of the Cortes by President Alcalá-Zamora, who believed the Republic needed to shift towards the center. The preceding four years had seen a political pendulum swing: the first two years were governed by left-wing parties, while the subsequent two were dominated by the CEDA and Lerroux's Radical Party.

The rising tide of fascism and Nazism across Europe, coupled with the Comintern's (Third International, ruled from Moscow) rejection of an immediate move into class struggle, significantly favored the creation of left-wing party alliances. The term Popular Front was coined by communists, notably appearing in France as the Rassemblement Populaire.

In Spain, a Popular Front, devised by Manuel Azaña, was established on October 20, 1935. While most left-wing groups joined, the Partido Nacional Republicano, led by Sánchez Román, refused to participate. Anarchists also did not formally join but encouraged their supporters to vote for the Popular Front.

The formation of the Popular Front can also be interpreted as a reaction against the moderate government of Lerroux and the CEDA. A significant portion of the left sought absolute power, allowing no alternative for the right. They believed only the left should rule, to the exclusion of other political forces. The measures they implemented to carry out such a policy have been interpreted by some scholars as the end of democracy in Spain. For this very reason, the armed rebellion of July 1936 is not universally seen as a revolt against a democratic power, as some argue democracy had already ceased to exist in Spain.

Comintern Policy and Internal Divisions

The Comintern initially aimed to accelerate and spread the dictatorship of the proletariat internationally. However, attempts to do so had failed, notably in Germany. Over the years, their policy evolved: they began seeking alliances with left-wing parties as a preliminary step towards revolution, even if it meant collaborating with bourgeois parties.

Within Spanish politics, this shift led to a split among left-wing parties. For instance, within the PSOE, two distinct trends emerged:

• Largo Caballero advocated for revolution as soon as possible. He had played a prominent part in the October 1934 revolution, where a "Libertarian Republic" had been proclaimed in Asturias.
• Indalecio Prieto preferred a more gradual approach, first through parliamentary democracy, until significant changes could be made to establish a workers' revolution.

The Popular Front Program

The program of the Frente Popular included several key objectives:

• Economic recovery
• Tax reduction
• Autonomy for certain regions
• Amnesty for political crimes
• Reinstatement of "purged" individuals to their former posts or jobs
• Indemnification for their families