Years of Reaction 1933-36

• From 1931, major figures on the right had argued for a new united RW political movement as the victory of the left in 1931 was in part due to the disorganisation of the right.
• Jose Maria Gil-Robles, the leader of Accion Popular, was the predominant figure in the creation of CEDA. He began negotiations to establish a coalition of RW groups that would contest the 1933 election as a single unified party. This led to the creation of CEDA in February 1933. The party's declared focus was to defend Catholicism, property rights and the unity of Spain.
• CEDA received a significant amount of funding from landowners who had felt threatened by Azana's agricultural reforms. Wealthy industrialists also contributed funds to the group as they felt the republic was dominated by LW groups that supported workers at the expense of the employers. Both landowners as industrialists hoped CEDA would reverse the reforms of the previous government.
• LW politicians viewed Gil-Robles as an enemy of democracy and the republic. He had visited Italy and Germany and recognised the value of propaganda, which he exploited in the 1933 elections.
• Many feared that Gil-Robles was planning to establish a authoritarian government or even dictatorship, similar to the one led by Primo de Rivera in the 1920s.
• President Alcala-Zamora had attempted to keep CEDA politicials out of Lerroux's government. This was because:

  • CEDA deupties had refused to swear loyalty to the republic.
  • Many suspected Gil-Robles and CEDA intended to turn Spain into a dictatorship.
  • In 1934, the PSOE's leader, Largo Caballero, proposed an armed uprising if CEDA was to enter a Spanish government.
• However, excluding CEDA was difficult to maintain. In October 1934, Gil-Robles threatened to withdraw CEDA's support for the new government unless CEDA members were given positions in the government. CEDA was the larges group in the Cortes and therefore a withdrawal of its support would have destroyed the government. Alcala-Zamora was forced to reconsider. He allowed CEDA to enter the governing coalition, which would include 3 CEDA ministers, responsible for labour, justice and agriculture.
• After hearing of CEDA entering government, Largo Caballero repeated his threat of revolution. The 1933 election defeat had radicalised the left and the failure of democracy to deliver meaningful reform persuaded many socialists to abandon democracy and embrace revolution.
• However, the PSOE's promise to initiate a revolution was half-hearted. None of the leaders of the PSOE expected Alcala-Zamora to allow CEDA to enter government.
• Largo Caballero misjudged the situation, but felt unable to back down. Therefore, Alcala-Zamora's decision to allow CEDA members into Lerroux's government prompted the Socialists to stage the revolution that they had been threatening.