Spanish Elections 1936: Popular Front Victory
Spanish Elections of February 1936: A Nation Divided
Background and Context of the 1936 Elections
The vertical bar chart illustrates the results of the Spanish elections to the Cortes in February 1936, during the Second Republic. The graph, derived from a secondary source, depicts the outcome of the electoral process that culminated in the vote on February 16, 1936. The horizontal axis features 14 bars, each representing a different political party, arranged in descending order based on the number of seats obtained. The vertical axis indicates the number of seats, scaled in increments of 10.
According to the number of deputies gained, three distinct groups emerge:
- Group 1: Comprised of the three parties with the most seats: the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) with 99 deputies, the Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas (CEDA) with 88 deputies, and Republican Left with 87 deputies.
- Group 2: Includes two parties with a moderate number of seats: Republican Union with 38 deputies and the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya with 37 deputies.
- Group 3: Consists of the remaining nine parties, each securing between 10 and 19 deputies.
The Rise of the Popular Front and the CEDA
The leftist forces united under the banner of the Popular Front, which had previously contributed to the overthrow of the monarchy of Alfonso XIII and the establishment of the Republic, as agreed upon in the Pact of San Sebastián. The 1931 Constitution, drafted and approved by the left-wing coalition after their victory in the elections to the Constituent Cortes, reflected the ideology of the parties within the coalition. This included the creation of a democratic republic, a reimagining of the state model to allow for regional autonomy, and the proclamation of a secular state.
The CEDA emerged in 1933 as a coalition of economic, social, and religious elites, joining forces to oppose the reform program of the Republican-Socialist government. They participated in the 1933 elections, and their victory, alongside the Radical Party, led to the cessation of reforms and a political process of involution, including a failed attempt to reform the Constitution. The reaction from unions and some left-wing political forces materialized in strikes and insurrections, culminating in the October Revolution of 1934, which was particularly intense in Asturias and Catalonia. The CEDA gained influence in the government of Lerroux and attempted to modify the Constitution. Gil Robles sought to be appointed Prime Minister following the resignation of Alejandro Lerroux due to scandals and embezzlement.
The 1936 Election: A Clash of Ideologies
However, the President did not accept this situation and called for elections in February 1936. Two main blocs competed for victory: the Popular Front coalition (formed by Socialists, Republicans, and Communists) aimed to halt the right-wing’s advance and return to the reformist program of the first two years, progressing towards a modern democratic republic. The right-wing was represented by two main forces: the CEDA and the National Bloc (Monarchists, Traditionalists, and the League).
The election results marked a clear victory for the Popular Front. The Popular Front won 48% of the votes, securing 278 seats (58.83%). The right-wing parties obtained 46.5% of the votes and 160 seats (33.83%), while the center received only 5.4% of the vote and 51 seats.
Breakdown of the Popular Front’s Victory
The 278 seats won by the Popular Front were a sum of the seats obtained by the PSOE (99), Republican Left (87), Republican Union (38), Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (37), and the Partido Comunista de España (PCE) (17). They achieved majority representation in Catalonia, Madrid, Valencia, and in industrial areas along the Spanish periphery.
The Right-Wing’s Performance
The 160 seats of the right were a combination of those won by the CEDA (88), right-wing Republicans (17), the National Bloc (12), Basque Nationalists (10), and Traditionalists (10). They gained greater representation in the interior of Spain, including Castilla, Navarra, Galicia, and parts of Aragon.
Consequences and Conclusion
The main consequence of these results was the implementation of the victors’ political agenda: amnesty for political prisoners, reinstatement of those retaliated against after the 1934 revolution, the restoration of the Generalitat of Catalonia and its political leaders, and the recovery of the reform agenda from the first two years. However, the resurgence of social unrest prevented the reform program from taking hold and provided a pretext for the army’s uprising.
The results of the 1936 elections clearly demonstrate the polarization of Spanish society into two increasingly confrontational and radicalized blocs. The underrepresentation of the center further underscores this polarization, setting the stage for the tumultuous events that would follow.