Third government of Segismundo Moret

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3rd government of Segismundo Moret
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg
Government of Spain
1909–1910
Segismundo Moret b.1909 (cropped).jpg
Moret before 1909
Date formed21 October 1909
Date dissolved9 February 1910
People and organisations
Monarch Alfonso XIII
Prime Minister Segismundo Moret
No. of ministers7 [a]
Total no. of members7 [a]
Member parties   Liberal
Status in legislature Minority (single-party)
Opposition party   Conservative
Opposition leader Antonio Maura
History
Predecessor Maura II
Successor Canalejas I

The third government of Segismundo Moret, was formed on 21 October 1909, following the latter's appointment as prime minister of Spain by King Alfonso XIII and his swearing-in that same day, [1] as a result of Antonio Maura's resignation from the post on 21 October. [2] [3] It succeeded the second Maura government and was the government of Spain from 21 October 1909 to 9 February 1910, a total of 111 days, or 3 months and 19 days. [4]

Contents

The cabinet comprised members of the Liberal Party and two military officers. [5]

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 Cortes , 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. [6] [7]

The monarch would play a key role in the turno system by appointing and dismissing governments, which would then organize elections to provide themselves with a parliamentary majority. [8] As a result, governments during this period were dependent on royal confidence, which was frequently secured or lost based on the leaders' ability to guarantee the internal unity and parliamentary cohesion of their parties. [9] [10] In practice, the royal prerogative was not exercised freely by the monarch, but was carried out through the opening of a round of consultations—with the presidents of the chambers, the leaders of the main parties, the potential candidates and other notable figures—prior to government formation, or when prime ministers raised a matter of confidence to the monarch. [11]

Consultations

King Alfonso XIII held a round of consultations on 21 October 1909 to determine a solution to the political crisis arising from Maura's resignation. [12] [13] [14]

Consultations
King of Spain
ConsulteeOffice/positionPartyRecommendation
21 October 1909
Segismundo Moret (1st)Leader of the Liberal Party
Prime Minister (former)		 Liberal Either a transitional government or a Liberal cabinet.
Marcelo Azcárraga President of the Senate Conservative Either a Conservative cabinet under Maura or a Liberal cabinet.
Eduardo Dato President of the Congress of Deputies Conservative Either a Conservative cabinet under Maura or a Liberal cabinet.
José López Domínguez Prime Minister (former)
President of the Senate (former)		 Military Liberal cabinet.
José Canalejas President of the Congress of Deputies (former) Democratic Liberal cabinet.
Antonio Maura Prime Minister
Leader of the Conservative Party 		Conservative Did not disclose his recommendation.
Segismundo Moret (2nd)Leader of the Liberal Party
Prime Minister (former)		 Liberal Accepted to head a cabinet.
Nominations
Outcome →Nomination of Segismundo Moret (Liberal) Symbol confirmed.svgAccepted
Sources [12] [13] [15]

The outcome of the consultations led Alfonso XIII to entrust the formation of a new government to Segismundo Moret, who accepted the nomination. [1]

Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers was structured into the office for the prime minister and eight ministries. [1]

← Moret III Government →
(21 October 1909 – 9 February 1910)
PortfolioNamePartyTook officeLeft officeRef.
Prime Minister
Minister of Governance 		Segismundo Moret Liberal 21 October 19099 February 1910 [16]
Minister of State Juan Pérez-Caballero Liberal 21 October 19099 February 1910 [17]
Minister of Grace and Justice Eduardo Martínez del Campo Liberal 21 October 19099 February 1910 [17]
Minister of War Agustín de Luque Military 21 October 19099 February 1910 [17]
Minister of the Navy Víctor María Concas Military 21 October 19099 February 1910 [17]
Minister of Finance Juan Alvarado y del Saz Liberal 21 October 19099 February 1910 [17]
Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts Antonio Barroso y Castillo Liberal 21 October 19099 February 1910 [17]
Minister of Development Rafael Gasset Liberal 21 October 19099 February 1910 [17]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Does not include the prime minister.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Soldevilla 1910, pp. 410–411.
  2. ↑ Cuenca Toribio, José Manuel (2022). "Personajes: Antonio Maura y Montaner". Historia Hispánica (in Spanish). Royal Academy of History . Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  3. ↑ Soldevilla 1910, pp. 406–409.
  4. ↑ Ferrera Cuesta, Carlos (2022). "Personajes: Segismundo Moret y Prendergast". Historia Hispánica (in Spanish). Royal Academy of History. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  5. ↑ Soldevilla 1910, p. 411.
  6. ↑ Calero 1987, p. 275.
  7. ↑ Constitution (1876) , arts. 32 & 54.
  8. ↑ Martorell Linares 1997, pp. 139–143.
  9. ↑ Calero 1987, pp. 283–289.
  10. ↑ Ferrera Cuesta, Carlos (2022). "Personajes: Segismundo Moret y Prendergast". Historia Hispánica (in Spanish). Royal Academy of History. Retrieved 18 August 2025.: "... according to the political practice of the Restoration, since voters did not determine majorities due to electoral manipulation, the requirement demanded of any leader to retain power was to guarantee the unity of the Party. [Spanish: ... según la práctica política de la Restauración, dado que los votantes no determinaban las mayorías a causa de la manipulación electoral, el requisito exigido a cualquier líder para conservar el poder pasaba por garantizar la unidad del Partido.]"
  11. ↑ Calero 1987, pp. 289–291.
  12. 1 2 "Los liberales en el Poder. Moret, presidente". National Library of Spain (in Spanish). La Correspondencia de España. 22 October 1909. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Dimisión del gobierno". National Library of Spain (in Spanish). El Imparcial. 22 October 1909. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  14. ↑ Soldevilla 1910, pp. 409–410.
  15. ↑ Soldevilla 1910, pp. 409–411.
  16. ↑ "Real decreto nombrando Presidente del Consejo de Ministros y Ministro de la Gobernación a D. Segismundo Moret y Prendergast" (PDF). Madrid Gazette (in Spanish) (295). State Agency for the Official State Gazette: 153. 22 October 1909.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Reales decretos nombrando Ministro de Estado a D. Juan Pérez Caballero; de Gracia y Justicia, a D. Eduardo Martínez del Campo; de la Guerra, a D. Agustín Luque y Coca; de Marina, a D. Víctor María Concas y Palau; de Hacienda, a D. Juan Alvarado y del Saz; de Instrucción Pública y Bellas Artes a D. Antonio Barroso y Castillo; de Fomento, a D. Rafael Gasset y Chinchilla" (PDF). Madrid Gazette (in Spanish) (295). State Agency for the Official State Gazette: 154. 22 October 1909.

Bibliography

Preceded by Government of Spain
1909–1910		Succeeded by
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