Radical Republican Party
Encyclopedia
The Radical Republican Party , sometimes shortened to the Radical Party was a Spanish political party founded in 1908 by Alejandro Lerroux
in Santander, Cantabria
by a split from the historical Republican Union party led by Nicolás Salmerón.
With uncertain ideological bases, the party's ideology shifted significantly over time from its initial violent anti-clericalism
and its participation in the Tragic Week of 1909 to a coalition with the conservative Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right
during the Second Spanish Republic
in 1931. Its leader, Alejandro Lerroux
was a controversial figure known for his corruption and demagogic rhetoric.
The Radicals enjoyed success in Barcelona
, rivaling the local Lliga Regionalista and dominated municipal politics in Barcelona; a period during which Lerroux was dogged by accusations of corruption. Lerroux's skills in mobilizing the lower classes, until 1914, earned him the epithet "Emperor of the Paralelo" (after the working-class neighborhood of the city). Traditional republicans were always skeptical of Lerroux's Radicals, likely because of allegations that he was founded by the dynastic Liberal Party
as a method to divert the working-class from anarcho-syndicalism
.
At the end of the reign of Alfonso XIII, with the regime suffering a profound crisis, the Radicals were a signatory of the Pact of San Sebastián
and participated in the provisional government which followed the overthrow of the monarchy in April 1931. With 89 seats following the 1931 election
, the Radicals revealed themselves as the main parliamentary opposition to the left-wing policy led by Manuel Azaña
.
Following the victory of the right in the 1933 election
, after which they held 104 seats, the Radicals formed government, alone at first, but with the clear support of José María Gil-Robles
' Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right
and later with the participation of Gil-Robles' conservatives.
While in government, it faced the Asturian miners' strike of 1934
, an event caused directly as a response to CEDA's participation in government. The government harshly repressed the strike in Asturias
as well as a revolt in Catalonia
led by the President of the Generalitat, Lluís Companys.
The Radicals suffered significantly from the Straperlo
scandal, and won a mere 5 seats in the 1936 election
It suffered numerous splits during its existence. In 1929, the left wing of the party split off as the Radical Socialist Republican Party
. In 1934, moderates in the party led by Diego Martínez Barrio
left to form the Radical Democratic Party, one of the political groups which merged to create Republican Union Party
.
The party was often seen to be anti-clerical and close to the Masonic Grande Oriente Español
.
Alejandro Lerroux
Alejandro Lerroux y García was a Spanish politician who was the leader of the Radical Republican Party during the Second Spanish Republic...
in Santander, Cantabria
Santander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
by a split from the historical Republican Union party led by Nicolás Salmerón.
With uncertain ideological bases, the party's ideology shifted significantly over time from its initial violent anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
and its participation in the Tragic Week of 1909 to a coalition with the conservative Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right
Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right
The Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right was a Spanish political party in the Second Spanish Republic. A Catholic conservative force, it was the political heir to Angel Herrera Oria's Acción Popular and defined itself in terms of the 'affirmation and defence of the principles of Christian...
during the Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
in 1931. Its leader, Alejandro Lerroux
Alejandro Lerroux
Alejandro Lerroux y García was a Spanish politician who was the leader of the Radical Republican Party during the Second Spanish Republic...
was a controversial figure known for his corruption and demagogic rhetoric.
The Radicals enjoyed success in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, rivaling the local Lliga Regionalista and dominated municipal politics in Barcelona; a period during which Lerroux was dogged by accusations of corruption. Lerroux's skills in mobilizing the lower classes, until 1914, earned him the epithet "Emperor of the Paralelo" (after the working-class neighborhood of the city). Traditional republicans were always skeptical of Lerroux's Radicals, likely because of allegations that he was founded by the dynastic Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Spanish Restoration)
The Liberal Party was a Spanish political party created in 1880 by Práxedes Mateo Sagasta. With the Partido Conservador of Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, it formed a bipartite system of alternating governments that characterised the Spanish Restoration during the final part of the 19th century and...
as a method to divert the working-class from anarcho-syndicalism
Anarcho-syndicalism
Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labour movement. The word syndicalism comes from the French word syndicat which means trade union , from the Latin word syndicus which in turn comes from the Greek word σύνδικος which means caretaker of an issue...
.
At the end of the reign of Alfonso XIII, with the regime suffering a profound crisis, the Radicals were a signatory of the Pact of San Sebastián
Pact of San Sebastián
The Pact of San Sebastián was a meeting led by Niceto Alcalá Zamora and Miguel Maura, which took place in San Sebastián, Spain on August 17, 1930. Representatives from practically all republican political movements in Spain at the time attended the meeting. Presided over by Fernando Sasiaín , the...
and participated in the provisional government which followed the overthrow of the monarchy in April 1931. With 89 seats following the 1931 election
Spanish general election, 1931
-Background:General Primo de Rivera, who had run a military dictatorship in Spain since 1923, resigned as head of government in January 1930. There was little support for a return to the pre-1923 system, and the monarchy had lost credibility by backing the military government...
, the Radicals revealed themselves as the main parliamentary opposition to the left-wing policy led by Manuel Azaña
Manuel Azaña
Manuel Azaña Díaz was a Spanish politician. He was the first Prime Minister of the Second Spanish Republic , and later served again as Prime Minister , and then as the second and last President of the Republic . The Spanish Civil War broke out while he was President...
.
Following the victory of the right in the 1933 election
Spanish general election, 1933
Elections to Spain’s legislature, the Cortes Generales, were held on 19 November 1933 for all 473 seats in the unicameral Cortes of the Second Spanish Republic. Since the previous elections of 1931, a new constitution had been ratified, and the franchise extended to more than six million women...
, after which they held 104 seats, the Radicals formed government, alone at first, but with the clear support of José María Gil-Robles
José María Gil-Robles
José María Gil-Robles y Gil-Delgado is a Spanish politician. He was formerly a Member of the European Parliament in the European People's Party group, and was President of the European Parliament from 1997 to 1999.-References:...
' Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right
Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right
The Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right was a Spanish political party in the Second Spanish Republic. A Catholic conservative force, it was the political heir to Angel Herrera Oria's Acción Popular and defined itself in terms of the 'affirmation and defence of the principles of Christian...
and later with the participation of Gil-Robles' conservatives.
While in government, it faced the Asturian miners' strike of 1934
Asturian miners' strike of 1934
The Asturian miners' strike of 1934 was a major strike action which took place in Asturias in northern Spain soon developing into armed insurrection against the Spanish government.-Background:...
, an event caused directly as a response to CEDA's participation in government. The government harshly repressed the strike in Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
as well as a revolt in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
led by the President of the Generalitat, Lluís Companys.
The Radicals suffered significantly from the Straperlo
Straperlo
Straperlo was a business which tried to introduce in Spain in the 1930s a fraudulent roulette which could be controlled electrically with the push of a button...
scandal, and won a mere 5 seats in the 1936 election
Spanish general election, 1936
Legislative elections were held in Spain on February 16, 1936. At stake were all 473 seats in the unicameral Cortes Generales. The winners of the 1936 elections were the Popular Front, a left-wing coalition of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party , Republican Left , Esquerra Republicana de...
It suffered numerous splits during its existence. In 1929, the left wing of the party split off as the Radical Socialist Republican Party
Radical Socialist Republican Party
Radical Socialist Republican Party , sometimes shortened to Radical Socialist Party , was a Spanish radical political party, created in 1929 after the split of the left-wing in Alejandro Lerroux's Radical Republican Party...
. In 1934, moderates in the party led by Diego Martínez Barrio
Diego Martínez Barrio
Diego Martínez y Barrio was a Spanish politician during the Second Spanish Republic, Prime Minister of Spain between 9 October 1933 and 26 December 1933 and was briefly appointed again by Manuel Azaña after the resignation of Santiago Casares Quiroga, on July 19, 1936 - three days after the...
left to form the Radical Democratic Party, one of the political groups which merged to create Republican Union Party
Republican Union Party
The Republican Union was a Spanish republican party founded in 1934 by Diego Martinez Barrio.It was formed as a result of a merger of several small republican parties, including notably Diego Martinez Barrio's Radical Democratic Party founded in May 1934 by a split from Alejandro Lerroux's Radical...
.
The party was often seen to be anti-clerical and close to the Masonic Grande Oriente Español
Grande Oriente Español
The Grande Oriente Español is the oldest traditional Masonic body in Spain.Among its Grand Masters was Diego Martínez Barrio, prime minister of Spain and founder of the Republican Union Party....
.