Trends in Spain What -gives the Spanish Municipal Elections their
importance is that it was the results of precisely these elections two years ago which brought the Spanish dictatorship and monarchy toppling down and installed the Republic in its place. This week's sudden swing away from the Government was unexpected. The final figures are not available yet, but enough is known to make it clear that Senor Azafia's administration has sustained a considerable rebuff. It is, of course, true that what happens in the municipalities has nothing direct to do with the Cortes, that only a fourth of the municipal councils are being elected this time, and that these elections affect mainly the villages and not the larger towns. In spite of all that there has been a very definite declaration of public opinion, and it is a declaration more against the Government than for it. The Socialists have fared badly and the parties of the Right well. But the Monarchists, who held most of the contested seats, have lost heavily, and though the trend may be anti- governmental, there is no reason to believe it is anti- republican. Senor Azafia himself may have to give place to Senor Lerroux, and the proposal to break up the big estates may be modified, for the Agrarians have polled well. But the Spanish Republic itself still stands firm.
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