The Election of February 1936

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Created by
Emma D

Cards (7)

  • The general election of 16th February 1936 led to the victory of the Popular Front , which gained 48% of the vote, 2% ahead of the total vote of right wing parties. The election revealed the extent of the political division in Spain.
  • Election Results (February 1936):
    • Popular Front = 267 seats
    • Centre Republicans = 57 seats
    • RW groups = 131 seats (CEDA = 88)
  • The new Popular Front government initiated fresh reforms, including:
    • the restoration of Catalan autonomy
    • the beginnings of draft legislation to give similar independence to the Basque Country
    • the resumption of agrarian and military reforms
  • RW groups denounced these measures introduced by the Popular Front as an attack on the nation. However, RW opposition to the new government was more radical than the opposition faced in 1931-32. Some groups on the right had rejected legal methods and were willing to achieve their aims by force.
  • Prominent right wingers engaged in a plot to prevent the Popular Front from taking power. Gil-Robles and other RW leaders put pressure on Manuel Portela Valladares, PM at the time of the election, to proclaim martial law and declare the results of the February election invalid. Declaring martial law would pass power to the army. The plan failed as senior generals didn't believe the government was ready to take power, but the attempt was a clear indication of the seriousness of RW opposition to the Popular Front.
  • Extreme RW groups also attracted more members during the 1936 election campaign. There was a rise in Spaniards joining the Falange, a fascist group that advocated for destroying democracy and creating a dictatorship backed by the military. The rise in membership continued throughout 1936 and by July it had 40000 members,
  • RW violence on the streets also increased from February, a clear sign violence was becoming an increasingly central part of Spanish politics. Attacks on LW politicians increased after the election. For example, on the 16th March 1936, Largo Caballero's house was attacked.