March 2006

"EFEMERIDES"

On the occasion of such a key date as the International Women’s Day, Correos issues a new stamp commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Women’s Voting Rights in Spain. Such an important achievement, which involved a daunting, long period of demands, granted equal rights on the polls to both men and women alike.

On 9th December 1931, the Spanish Parliament passed a Constitution drafted by the new 2nd Republic Government, whose article 36 (34 on the Constitution bill) read: “All citizens of either gender and over 23 shall have the same voting rights, as established by law”. After having been repeatedly demanded during the last three decades of the nineteenth century, universal suffrage was finally established in Spain.

Before being passed, article 34 of the 1931 Constitution bill, which dealt with women’s suffrage, triggered a series of opposed points of view within the Government, those in favour and against the text, the latter suggesting limits on women’s voting rights or just delaying a final outcome. At the time, two were the only female members of parliament, whose brilliantly defended views are stated on the original Parliament proceedings: Clara Campoamor, member of the radical party, in favour of the text, and Victoria Kent, member of the radical-socialist party and staunch supporter of the second option. On 1st October 1931, article 34 was voted on and finally passed with 161 votes in favour to 121 against.

In Spain, the first moves –both of them eventually turned down– towards women’s voting rights date back to 1877, when they were solely intended for women exercising parental authority, as well as to 1907-1908, a period in which such rights were demanded for legally free women and for those wishing to cast their votes in local elections. It was not until 1924 and by Royal Decree from 12 April that the Spanish dictator Primo de Rivera granted voting rights to all legally free women over 23, except for married women, with the aim of avoiding potential conflicts within marriage. However, they would exercise their right to vote on this occasion only.

The stamp depicts an image belonging to the photographic album ‘Fondo Alfonso’, from the Spanish Government’s General Archives (Archivo General de la Administración del Estado), in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid).