Spain has twice attempted to govern as a republic, yet the monarchy persists today.

Science · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanish republicanism is not a single doctrine but a diverse historical movement spanning centuries. From the radical liberalism of the nineteenth century to the short-lived regimes of 1873 and 1931, the quest for a republic remains a defining, albeit contested, feature of Spain's modern political identity and public debate.

Modern Spanish republicanism emerged in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, influenced by the French Revolution. Initially fragmented, the movement coalesced around democratic, anticlerical, and federalist ideals. By the 1840s, republicans were advocating for universal male suffrage, secular education, and social reform. These efforts culminated in the First Spanish Republic, which lasted from February 1873 to December 1874. This period was marked by intense instability, including the Cantonal rebellion and the Third Carlist War, before General Arsenio Martínez Campos restored the Bourbon monarchy in December 1874.

The Second Spanish Republic, proclaimed in April 1931 after municipal elections, introduced a democratic, secular, and decentralized constitution that notably enfranchised women. Led by figures like Manuel Azaña, the government pursued ambitious reforms in labor, education, and land ownership. However, these changes faced fierce resistance from conservative, military, and Catholic sectors. The resulting polarization and the 1934 revolutionary strikes set the stage for the 1936 military uprising, which triggered the Spanish Civil War. Following the 1939 defeat of the Republic, the Franco dictatorship suppressed republicanism for decades.

During the transition to democracy in the late 1970s, major opposition parties prioritized stability over republican restoration, accepting the parliamentary monarchy of Juan Carlos I. Despite this, republican sentiment has persisted in political parties and social movements. Recent decades have seen a decline in public confidence in the monarchy, particularly among younger Spaniards. While the Spanish Constitution of 1978 established a parliamentary monarchy, surveys indicate that Spain now holds one of the highest percentages of detractors of the current monarchical model in Europe, with many citizens calling for a referendum on the form of government.

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