The second government of Manuel Azaña was formed on 16 December 1931, following the latter's appointment as prime minister of Spain by President Niceto Alcalá-Zamora and his swearing-in that same day. It succeeded the first Azaña government and was the government of Spain from 16 December 1931 to 12 June 1933, a total of 544 days, or 1 year, 5 months and 27 days.
2nd government of Manuel Azaña | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} Government of Spain | |
| 1931–1933 | |
 The government in December 1931 | |
| Date formed | 16 December 1931 |
| Date dissolved | 8 June 1933 |
| People and organisations | |
President | Niceto Alcalá-Zamora |
Prime Minister | Manuel Azaña |
No. of ministers | 10[a] |
Total no. of members | 10[a] |
Member parties | PSOE PRRS ERC AR ORGA/PRG[b] |
Status in legislature | Majority (coalition) |
Opposition party | PRR |
Opposition leader | Alejandro Lerroux |
| History | |
| Predecessor | Provisional |
| Successor | Azaña III |
The cabinet comprised members of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), the Radical Socialist Republican Party (PRRS), the Republican Action (AR) and the Autonomous Galician Republican Organization (ORGA), as well as one independent minister proposed by Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC). It was disestablished as a consequence of the fallout of the Casas Viejas incident and the withdrawal of presidential confidence due to the approval of the Law on Religious Congregations.[1]
Formation
editOverview
editThe Constitution of 1931 enshrined Spain as a semi-presidential republic, awarding the President of the Republic the capability of appointing government ministers at will unless the Cortes refused explicitly, that is to say, through a motion of no confidence.[2] He could also inspect and ultimately control executive acts by granting or denying the signature of presidential decrees [3] and dissolve the Cortes.[4]
Round of consultations
editWith the approval of the Constitution and the election of the President of the Republic, the provisional government dissolved itself and Alcalá-Zamora started the round of consultations to name a new government.
| Consultations President of the Republic | ||||
| Date | Consultee | Office/position | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 December 1931 | Julian Besteiro Fernández | President of the Cortes Generales | PSOE | |
| Alejandro Lerroux Gracía | Minister of State Leader of the Radical Republican Party | PRR | ||
| Remigio Cabello Toral (1st time) | President of the PSOE Leader of the Socialist Parliamentary Group | PSOE | ||
| Emilio Baeza Medina | Leader of the Radical Socialist Parliamentary Group | PRRS | ||
| Luis Bello Trompeta | Leader of the Republican Action Parliamentary Group | AR | ||
| José Ortega y Gasset | Leader of the Service to the Republic Parliamentary Group | ASR | ||
| Remigio Cabello Toral (2nd time) | President of the PSOE Leader of the Socialist Parliamentary Group | PSOE | ||
| Carlos Blanco Pérez | Leader of the Progressive Republican Parliamentary Group | PRP | ||
| José Franchy y Roca | Leader of the Federal Republican Parliamentary Group | PRDF | ||
| Lluís Companys | Leader of the Catalan Left Parliamentary Group | ERC | ||
| Santiago Casares Quiroga | Minister of Governance | ORGA | ||
| 15 December 1931 | Manuel Azaña Díaz (1st time) | President of the Council of Ministers | AR | |
| Manuel Azaña Díaz (2nd time) | President of the Council of Ministers | AR | ||
| Result | ||||
| Outcome → | Nomination of Manuel Azaña Díaz (AR).  Accepted | |||
| Sources:[5][6] | ||||
Cabinet changes
edit- Casares Quiroga would be acting Minister of Communications until 31 March 1932, when it was integrated into the Ministry of Governance as an undersecretary.[7]
Council of Ministers
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Notes
edit- 1 2 Does not include the prime minister.
- ↑ In May 1932, the Autonomous Galician Republican Organization was rebranded as the Galician Republican Party.
References
edit- ↑ Juliá, Santos (1999). Un siglo de España. Política y sociedad. Marcial Pons. p. 90. ISBN 84-9537903-1. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ↑ "Constitución de 1931. Art. 75" (PDF).
- ↑ "Constitución de 1931. Art. 76" (PDF).
- ↑ "Constitución de 1931. Art. 81" (PDF).
- ↑ "Ahora 15-12-1931".
- ↑ "Ahora 16-12-1931".
- ↑ "Casares Quiroga, Santiago sheet. Congress of Deputies web".