THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1936. ELECTIONS IN SPAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22809, 19 February 1936, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1936. ELECTIONS IN SPAIN

The general elections in Spain this week, in accordance with a decree signed by the President early in January, have furnished a spectacle which the rest of the world must find distinctly interesting as a reflection of the political conditions in that country. Extraordinary military precautions appear to have been taken for the preservation of order. They were needed, as we may judge from the amount of disorder and fighting that is reported to have occurred in spite of them. More than ever in the past fifteen months repeated political crises have demonstrated the instability of the Spanish political system. The resignation of the fifth Government that was formed since the revolution in October, 1934, took place in December last. This was the outcome of a hostile vote in the Cortes against a former Minister who was held to be responsible for administrative irregularities. A Cabinet was then formed by Senor Valladares, and subsequently Parliament was dissolved in pursuance of the Government's policy to make way for free elections. The party battle in Spain is somewhat involved. Within the political groupings there are three main contending parties. The Radicals, who have provided the Premier for the past three years, are anti-Social-ists and sound Republicans. The combination of Right parties known as

the C.E.D.A. —Confederacion Espanola Dereches Autononios —under the leadership of Senor Gil Kobles is representative of the Roman Catholic Church and of the land-owning classes, and, while accepting the Republic, has monarchist leanings. Between these two parties a coalition obtained which was weakened when charges against Ministers produced repercussions throughout the country. The party under Senor Robles was strongest in the last Cortes, but was not represented in the Cabinet of Senor Valladares, for which reason its leader ordered municipal officials affiliated to the Catholic parties to resign their posts by way of protest. On the other side of the scale are the parties of the Left, including progressive elements under an ex-Premier, Senor Azana, the active remnants of the Socialist Party which fared badly as a consequence of the revolt of 1934, Syndicalists, Communists and Left Republicans. These groups had boycotted Parliament and demanded a general election, and have been organising a united front. That they have done so to effective purpose is indicated in the election results. These cannot yet be fully known, as there is provision for a second ballot on March 1, but it is evident from the details so far furnished from Madrid that there has been a deeided swing to the Left throughout the country, and that the Government's calculations in respect of the polling have been considerably upset. Estimates of the party position are conflicting, but the parties of the Left have apparently obtained a majority in the Cortes with its four hundred odd members. An interesting . political sequel Is no doubt promised. In justifying his action in dissolving the Cortes, President Zamora stated that free expression of public opinion had been impeded, and it was time that this opinion should be called upon to express itself. The preceding elections were in 1933, when there was a great swing to the Right. Now the trend is the other way. According to a cabled message Senor Azana has expressed delight at the, triumph of the Popular Front at the polls, and evidently he anticipates that he will have the opportunity of forming a Ministry. The elections seem to indicate a reassertion of the democratic tradition in Spain against the antiParliamentary and anti-Republican elements. In view of the circumstances attending the polling, and the excitement aroused over the results, the official announcement that complete tranquility exists throughout the country is rather amusing: