1936 Spanish general election
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| 1936 Spanish general election | |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Type | parliamentary |
| Previous election | 1933 Spanish general election |
| Previous year | 1933 |
| Next election | 1977 Spanish general election |
| Next year | 1977 |
| Seats for election | All 473 seats of the Congress of Deputies |
| Majority seats | 237 |
| Election date | 16 February 1936 (first round), 1 March 1936 (second round) |
| Turnout | 72.9% |
| Leader1 | Manuel Azaña |
| Party1 | Republican Left |
| Alliance1 | Popular Front |
| Leaders seat1 | Madrid |
| Seats1 | 263 |
| Popular vote1 | 4,654,116 |
| Percentage1 | 47.1% |
| Leader2 | José María Gil-Robles |
| Party2 | CEDA |
| Alliance2 | National Front |
| Leaders seat2 | Salamanca |
| Seats2 | 156 |
| Popular vote2 | 4,503,505 |
| Percentage2 | 45.6% |
| Leader3 | Alejandro Lerroux |
| Party3 | Radical Republican Party |
| Alliance3 | Centre Party |
| Leaders seat3 | Madrid |
| Seats3 | 54 |
| Popular vote3 | 681,047 |
| Percentage3 | 6.9% |
| Title | Prime Minister |
| Before election | Manuel Portela Valladares |
| Before party | Republican Union |
| After election | Manuel Azaña |
| After party | Republican Left |
1936 Spanish general election was held on 16 February and 1 March 1936 to elect all 473 members of the Congress of Deputies. It was the last election held during the Second Spanish Republic before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. The contest was a polarizing battle between the left-wing Popular Front coalition and a right-wing alliance centered on the CEDA, with a fragmented center. The victory of the Popular Front, led by Manuel Azaña, precipitated a profound political crisis that culminated in a military uprising in July.
Background
The election was called by the centrist caretaker government of Manuel Portela Valladares after the dissolution of the Cortes Generales by President Niceto Alcalá-Zamora. It followed a tumultuous period known as the "Black Biennium" (1934-1935), during which a right-wing coalition led by the Radical Republican Party and supported by CEDA governed. This era was marked by significant social conflict, including the Asturian miners' strike of 1934 and the subsequent repression by the Spanish Republican Army under General Francisco Franco. The political climate was further charged by the controversial Amnesty Law of 1936, which sought to release prisoners from the Revolution of 1934.
Electoral system
The election was conducted under the Spanish Constitution of 1931 and the 1907 Spanish Electoral Law, which utilized a block voting system in multi-member constituencies. The country was divided into 63 constituencies, primarily corresponding to provinces, such as Madrid and Barcelona. A candidate needed an absolute majority in the first round to win a seat; otherwise, a second round was held where a plurality sufficed. This system, combined with coalition pacts, heavily influenced the final distribution of seats.
Parties and candidates
The main electoral alliance was the left-wing Popular Front, which included Manuel Azaña's Republican Left, Francisco Largo Caballero's Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, and the Communist Party of Spain. The right-wing coalition, often termed the National Front, was dominated by José María Gil-Robles's CEDA and included Renovación Española monarchists led by Antonio Goicoechea. The center was represented by the Radical Republican Party of Alejandro Lerroux and the Centre Party, alongside regionalist groups like the Basque Nationalist Party in the Basque Country.
Campaign
The campaign was exceptionally bitter and took place in an atmosphere of intense political violence. The Popular Front focused on restoring the reforms of the First Biennium, implementing the Amnesty Law of 1936, and continuing the agrarian reform program. The right, warning of the threat of Bolshevism, emphasized social order, defense of the Catholic Church, and revision of the Spanish Constitution of 1931. Key rallies were held in cities like Valencia and Seville, with prominent figures such as Indalecio Prieto and José Calvo Sotelo delivering impassioned speeches.
Results
The Popular Front won a narrow plurality of the popular vote but secured a decisive majority of 263 seats in the Congress of Deputies. The right-wing National Front coalition, led by CEDA, won 156 seats, while the center parties collapsed to just 54 seats. The distribution of seats was heavily skewed by the electoral system and coalition agreements. Notable victories included Manuel Azaña in Madrid and Dolores Ibárruri (La Pasionaria) for the Communist Party of Spain. Voter turnout was 72.9%, with significant regional variation between areas like Catalonia and Andalusia.
Aftermath
The victory of the Popular Front led to the formation of a government under Manuel Azaña, who was soon elected President of the Republic in April, succeeded as Prime Minister by Santiago Casares Quiroga. The new government implemented the amnesty and reinstated Catalan autonomy, but faced immediate economic strife and escalating street violence between Falange Española militants and leftist groups. The political assassination of José Calvo Sotelo on 13 July 1936 by Assault Guards was a catalytic event. On 17 July, a military rebellion began in Morocco, led by generals including Francisco Franco, Emilio Mola, and José Sanjurjo, marking the start of the Spanish Civil War and the end of republican democracy.
Category:1936 elections in Spain Category:General elections in Spain Category:Second Spanish Republic Category:1936 in Spanish politics