Spanish Second Republic: Bienniums and Popular Front

The Spanish Second Republic

The Reformist Biennium: April 14, 1931 - 1933

On April 14, 1931, the Second Republic was proclaimed after the Republican nomination had been victorious in the municipal elections of the 12th in the provincial capitals and main cities. The main reason the system was in deep crisis was the Restoration, which had worsened during the reign of Alfonso XIII and the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera. The new government tried to tackle the country's problems through labor, educational, military, and agricultural reforms. The complete agreement concluded with the 1933 elections that gave the victory to the right.

The "Counter-Reformist" or Radical-CEDA Biennium: 1933-1936

The period from November 1933 to February 1936 was characterized by a succession of governments with little parliamentary stability, a willingness to review the reforms of the previous period, and the polarization of social and political life. The 1933 elections changed the political map. The parties that had brought about the Republic no longer had the majority. The CEDA had the highest number of deputies but did not form a government. A government supported by Lerroux had the main aim, with the ultimate goal, of dismantling the reforms of the previous biennium and preparing for entry into power. In these elections, women participated for the first time. Most earlier reforms were rectified:

• Blocking of Agrarian Reform
• Paralysis of self-development
• Suspension of labor reforms
• Amnesty for those convicted of the "Sanjurjada" of 1932
• Modification of religious politics

These actions were considered by some within the government as contrary to Republican principles, but for CEDA, they were insufficient. The suspension of labor reforms led to conflicts between employers and UGT workers. The UGT convened a general strike in June 1934 in Andalusia and Extremadura, which was repressed by the government. Political confrontation deepened, and the Spanish Falange, a fascist party whose violent actions raised political and social tension, appeared on the political scene of 1934. The possible entry of the CEDA into the government, whose project was to eliminate the Republic, led to threats of a general strike if such an act occurred in October 1934. When Lerroux named three CEDA ministers, the Socialists called for the strike.

• In Madrid, the Basque Country, and Andalusia, the incidence was low.
• In Asturias, where the UGT and CNT acted together, there was a real insurrection. The goal was to make the right move power to the government and put into practice a revolutionary program. The government sent troops brought from Africa, led by General Franco, who carried out a cruel repression of the insurgents and the civilian population.
• In Catalonia, the rebellion was very different. The origin was in the Cultivation Contracts Act, sponsored by the union Unió de Rabassaires. The owners felt that the Catalan Parliament was not competent. There was a general strike and revolt of the Catalan government, which proclaimed the "Catalan state within the Spanish Federal Republic."

The defeat of labor was exploited by employers to worsen working conditions and by the government to tighten its counter-reformist policy. All these actions generated a grudge against the army and the right. The left learned a hard lesson: if they wanted to regain power and continue the reforms of the first two years, they had to appear together in the elections. This idea was welcomed by the outskirts of the left and facilitated the formation of the Popular Front.

The End of the "Black Biennium"

A scandal sank the prestige of the Radical Party. The Radical-CEDA coalition deteriorated due to the increasing demands of the CEDA. At the end of 1935, Alcalá Zamora decided to form a government, but his attempts failed. He entrusted Portela Valladares with the convening of elections for February 16. There were two nominations:

• The right, led by Gil Robles, brought together almost all forces. Their program was to go for the 300 seats to reform the Constitution.
• The Popular Front met all parties except the left-wing anarchists. They wanted to recover the reformist program of the first biennium and amnesty for those reprised by the events of 1934.

The Popular Front nominations were victorious, winning in Madrid, Catalonia, Asturias, and the Mediterranean. The right-wing was imposed in Castilla, and the Popular Front in Aragon. The electoral victory of the Popular Front led some military officers and Gil Robles to pressure Portela Valladares to impose a state of war and transfer power to the winning coalition.

The Popular Front Government: February - July 1936

The Republican parties formed a government headed by Azaña, who replaced Alcalá Zamora as President of the Republic, and Casares Quiroga became the President of the Council of Ministers. Amnesty was granted to political prisoners, Catalan autonomy was restored, Basque and Galician autonomy were given momentum, laws favorable to workers were restored, and agrarian reform was given impetus. The Spanish Right decided to support a military coup that would prevent the loss of their power and traditional privileges. The Spanish Military Union gave coverage to the conspiracy and began to organize the anti-Republican right, led by General Mola, from 1936. The right-wing insisted on their tactics of obstructionism in the Cortes to wear down the government. The Spanish Falange put into practice the "dialectics of fists and guns" advertised by Primo de Rivera in his founding discourse of the FE. This chaos and disorder were intended to justify the intervention of the army. Killings occurred, such as those of Lieutenant Castillo and Calvo Sotelo.

The coup began in Morocco on July 17, where it was victorious. On the peninsula, it was executed on the 18th and only succeeded in Galicia, Castilla y León, Navarra, and Aragon. The rebel militants rejected the agreed solution that the government offered them through Martínez Barrio and embarked on a long war against the Republic, a war in which they counted on the help of Hitler and Mussolini. Their victory resulted in the dictatorship of Franco.