1.4.1 The Election of February 1936

• In the February 1936 elections, the Popular Front won 267 seats with 48% of the vote
• Reforms Introduced by the Popular Front:

  1. Restoration of Catalan autonomy
  2. Drafted legislation for Basque independence
  3. Resumption of agrarian and military reforms
• Right-wing groups put pressure on the prime minister to proclaim martial law and declare the results of the election invalid. It failed as senior generals did not believe the army was ready to take power
• Extreme right-wing groups, such as the Falange, became more popular during the election campaign. By July 1936, it had 40,000 members
• Right-wing violence on the streets increased, signalling that violence was becoming a central part of Spanish politics