The Primo de Rivera Dictatorship (1923-1930)

Posted on Oct 19, 2024 in History

The Military Directory (1923-1925)

Established by Royal Decree, the Military Directory, composed solely of military personnel and presided over by Primo de Rivera, assumed sole responsibility for governing Spain. Initial actions included:

  1. Declaring a state of war.
  2. Suspending constitutional guarantees.
  3. Dissolving the Cortes (parliament).
  4. Establishing press censorship.
  5. Replacing civil governors with military officials.

From January 1924, attempts were made to institutionalize the regime:

  1. Local Administration Reform: A Municipal Statute, drafted by J. Calvo Sotelo, aimed to grant municipalities greater financial autonomy and curb caciquismo (political bossism). However, governors continued appointing mayors, reinforcing state control.
  2. Expansion of the Somatén: This Catalan militia, loyal to the regime, supported the army and maintained order.
  3. Creation of the Patriotic Union: This single party aimed to foster regime loyalty outside the political class, enabling individuals to hold administrative positions.

The Military Board addressed pressing issues:

  1. Nationalism: Primo de Rivera considered separatism and regionalism synonymous, suppressing Catalan language, flag, anthem, and culture. This fueled support for republicanism under Francesc Maciá.
  2. Public Order: Repression of strikes and protests, coupled with censorship, maintained order.
  3. Moroccan War: Initially defeatist, Primo de Rivera faced pressure from Africanist officers. Abd el-Krim’s incursion into French territory led to joint action, culminating in victory and boosting Primo de Rivera’s prestige.

The Civil Directory (1925-1930)

In December 1925, a civil government replaced the Directory, retaining only Martínez Anido (Minister of Governance). Key figures included Calvo Sotelo (Finance), Conde de Guadalhorce (Development), and Eduardo Aunós (Labour). The Civil Directory aimed to establish a new political system:

  1. National Consultative Assembly: Comprising 400 members from the Church, army, administration, cultural sectors, and the Patriotic Union, it drafted an unapproved constitution (1929), lacking national sovereignty and division of powers, granting the king legislative and executive authority.
  2. Economic Policy: State interventionism, regulated by the National Economic Council, involved creating state monopolies (CAMPSA, Telefónica), expanding road networks, and establishing hydrographic confederations. This populist policy increased social debt.
  3. Social Policy: Modeled on Mussolini’s Italy, it involved creating the National Labour Council (1924), the Labour Code (1926), and the Corporate Labour Organization (OCT) (1926). Joint committees with equal worker and employer representation resolved labor conflicts, reducing social unrest through repression and economic stability.