How a fractured movement survived decades of repression and political exile

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: From the guerrilla struggles of the Maquis to the halls of modern Spanish government, the Communist Party of Spain has navigated a century of radical shifts. It has survived military dictatorship, internal purges, and the complex transition to a liberal democracy.

Founded in 1921 through a merger of two smaller organizations, the PCE emerged from a split within the Spanish Socialist Workers' and the desire to join Lenin's Communist International. The party's early years were marked by intense instability, including a 1923 strike that left twenty members dead or injured and a period of repression under the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera.

The party's influence surged during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). Under leaders like Dolores Ibárruri, known as La Pasionaria, the PCE expanded from 30,000 to 100,000 members in just five months. However, the subsequent victory of Francisco Franco led to severe persecution. Many members fled into exile, while others formed the 'Maquis' guerrilla resistance or worked within the regime's official trade unions to build opposition from within.

The transition to democracy brought both opportunity and internal crisis. In 1977, Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez legalized the party, a controversial move that helped stabilize the new liberal democracy. Under Santiago Carrillo, the party adopted 'Eurocommunism,' distancing itself from Soviet-style doctrines and accepting a constitutional monarchy. This shift caused deep fractures, leading to several splinter groups and the eventual formation of the United Left (IU) coalition in 1986.

Today, the PCE remains a significant force within the Sumar electoral alliance. While its role has shifted from revolutionary struggle to parliamentary participation, its core identity remains rooted in its historical fight against capitalism and its commitment to a republican, feminist, and secularist vision for the Spanish state.

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