The Second Spanish Republic: Political Polarization and Economic Strife
Aftermath of the October 1934 Revolution
- Asturias: 1,500 deaths
- Catalonia: 80 deaths
Following the uprising, President Lluís Companys and his government were imprisoned for 30 years. The Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia and the Generalitat were suspended.
Political Landscape in 1935
In 1935, the government of Alejandro Lerroux was replaced by a cabinet influenced by Gil Robles (CEDA).
President Niceto Alcalá Zamora, disapproving of this change, did not accept the new government and called for new elections in February 1936.
Key Political Blocs and Their Aims:
- CEDA: Sought to amend the Constitution and halt previous reforms.
- Radical Party: Plagued by corruption scandals, including the infamous “Straperlo” gambling machine affair, which involved illegal activities across Europe.
- The Left (Popular Front): A broad coalition of left-wing groups, including:
- Reformists (e.g., Socialist Agrarian Bloc – SAB)
- Revolutionaries (e.g., PSOE, PCE, POUM)
- Nationalists (e.g., ERC, ORGA)
Their primary goal was to recover and accelerate the reforms initiated in 1931, making them more radical.
Context of the 1936 Elections
- Economic Crisis: Spain was grappling with significant economic challenges.
- Political Polarization (Frontism): The formation of opposing political fronts (Popular Front vs. CEDA) led to intense ideological polarization and social violence across various regions.
February 1936 Election Results
The elections of February 1936 saw a highly fragmented political landscape:
- CEDA: 120 seats
- PSOE: 77 seats
- IR (Izquierda Republicana): 63 seats
- ERC (Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya): 22 seats
- P. Liberals (Partido Liberal): 21 seats
- PCE (Partido Comunista de España): 11 seats
- Lliga Catalana: 10 seats
- P. Radical (Partido Republicano Radical): 5 seats
- ORGA (Organización Republicana Gallega Autónoma): 6 seats
- PRS (Partido Reformista Social): 4 seats
- PS (Partido Sindicalista): 1 seat
Overall Seat Distribution:
- Left (PSOE, IR, ERC, PCE, ORGA, PS): 206 seats
- Right (CEDA, Lliga Catalana): 130 seats
- Center/Other (Liberal Party, Radical Party): Remaining seats
The electoral victory was declared for the Left. However, this victory was highly contested, as the popular vote count showed a slight advantage for the Right:
- Right: 4,511,031 votes
- Left: 4,430,322 votes
- Center: 681,815 votes
- Blank Votes: 91,641 votes
Challenges of the Second Spanish Republic
1. Economic and Social Challenges
The Second Republic coincided with the most severe period of the Great Depression. Due to a growing deficit and indebtedness, the government had increasingly fewer resources, precisely when they were most needed to implement crucial reforms. Foreign trade suffered significantly (affecting exports like oranges, wine, olive oil, and iron), and political uncertainty, coupled with distrust, led to a stock market collapse. While these issues primarily affected the bourgeoisie, they also exacerbated the plight of the proletariat and fueled the growth of labor strikes.
Spain, being predominantly agricultural rather than industrial, experienced a degree of isolation that somewhat reduced the direct impact of the global crisis. Therefore, some historians refer to this period as one of economic stagnation rather than a full depression. However, unlike the “New Deal” in America, no comprehensive response to the crisis was developed. In essence, while the global crisis had limited direct effects in Spain, it severely exacerbated existing problems stemming from internal economic underdevelopment and poor socio-labor conditions.
2. Political Challenges
The Second Republic represents the peak period of political mobilization in the 20th century. However, socio-political forces were deeply divided, failing to foster a true civic spirit or respect for opposing opinions. Republicans themselves were relatively few, and to maintain power, they had to rely on other forces, many of whom were more interested in exploiting the situation for their own ends rather than serving the Republic.
No single party ever achieved an absolute majority, meaning all governments were coalitions. These governments often did not align perfectly with parliamentary majorities (e.g., seeking republicanism with Azaña and the left, or Lerroux and the right), leading to frequent ministerial crises (18 in total) and significant political instability. Conspiracies against the Republic began almost immediately after its establishment.
As Azaña observed, one part of the country feared and hated the other; hatred engendered fear, and Spanish society was consumed by mutual distrust. Furthermore, there were several competing visions for the Republic:
- A liberal, anticlerical, progressive left-wing Republic.
- A more conservative, Catholic but democratic Republic.
- A more authoritarian Republic (as proposed by CEDA).
- A workers’ Republic based on social revolution.
Proponents of each model believed their vision was the only possible and necessary Republic, denying the legitimacy of other models. This fundamental disagreement prevented the social and political consensus essential for the consolidation of the Republic.