1.2.3 Reforms Under Azana

• Azana served as prime minister and leader of the Republican Action Party from 1931 to 1933
• The 1932 Catalan Statute devolved further powers in relation to domestic policies in Catalonia
• Consequences of Devolution to Catalonia:

  1. The republic gained support from one of the wealthiest regions in Spain
  2. Conservatives viewed it as a threat to Spanish unity
  3. Stimulated further demands for independence in the Basque region which were ignored
• Industrial Reforms:

  1. Enforced salary increases of approximately 16%
  2. The working day was restricted to 8 hours unless overtime was paid
  3. Ensured freedom to strike without dismissal
• The industrial reforms failed because social security benefits weren't given to the unemployed and because poverty was exacerbated by the Great Depression