The government of Juan Bautista Aznar-Cabañas was formed on 18 February 1931 following the latter's appointment by King Alfonso XIII and his swearing-in the same day. It succeeded the Berenguer government and was the government of Spain from 18 February 1931 to 14 April 1931, a total of 56 days, or 1 month and 28 days.
The cabinet comprised members from the military, the Liberal Party, the Liberal-Conservative Party and the Regionalist League of Catalonia.
The government collapsed after their loss in the local elections of 1931 and the subsequent handing over of power to the republican-socialist "revolutionary committee" by Alfonso XIII.
Formation Overview The Spanish Constitution of 1876 enshrined Spain as a semi-constitutional monarchy during the Restoration period, awarding the monarch—under the royal prerogative—the power to appoint government members (including the prime minister); the ability to grant or deny the decree of dissolution of the , or the adjournment of legislative sessions, to the incumbent or aspiring government that requested it; and the capacity to inform, inspect and ultimately control executive acts by granting or denying the signature of royal decrees; among others..
The search for a new prime minister After the failure of Berenguer's government to celebrate the elections scheduled for 1 March 1931 due to the abstention of the main monarchist political parties (only the conservatives and the UMN accepted to participate). Having lost the confidence of the monarchist politicians and of his own ministers after this failure, Berenguer presented his resignation on 14 February 1931.
Following the advice of regionalist politician Francesc Cambó, the king nominated exiled liberal politician Santiago Alba, who refused the offer and recommended the king to form a government formed up by "constitutionalists" The constitutionalists were a group of monarchist politicians who wanted to convene elections to a Constitutional Cortes in order to create a new constitution Following his advice, the king nominated constitutionalist José Sanchez Guerra, who accepted the offer. He sought to include members from the DLR in his government and reach a deal with the socialists, meeting with their jailed leaders in the Cárcel Modelo. They refused to cooperate and Sánchez-Guerra decided to decline the nomination. The king then nominated, following the advice of Sánchez Guerra, reformist politician Melquíades Álvarez, who declined after the refusal of the king to include general Manuel Goded in the government.
After reaching a deal with the main monarchist factions, Juan de la Cierva recommended Alfonso XIII to form a "government of monarchist concentration" presided by admiral Aznar-Cabañas. The king accepted with the condition that Berenguer remained as Minister of War.
Council of Ministers ImagePortfolioNamePolitical PartyPrime ministerJuan Bautista Aznar-CabañasMilitary Minister of State Count of Romanones Liberal Party Minister of Grace and Justice Manuel García PrietoLiberal Party Minister of War Dámaso BerenguerMilitaryMinister of the Navy José Rivera Álvarez de CaneroMilitary Minister of FinanceJoan Ventosa i CalvellRegionalist League of Catalonia Minister of the GovernanceJosé María de Hoyos y VinentLiberal Conservative Party Minister of Public Instruction and Fine ArtsJosé Gascón y MarínLiberal Conservative Party Minister of Development Juan de la Cierva y PeñafielLiberal Conservative Party Minister of Labour and Social ForesightGabriel Maura Gamazo Liberal Conservative Party Minister of National EconomyGabino Bugallal AraújoLiberal Conservative Party Source:
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