La censura de prensa en la Segunda República española (1931-1936)

Abstract

La proclamación de la Segunda República española abrió un horizonte de expectativas democráticas que quedó reflejado en la Constitución de diciembre de 1931, cuyo texto reconocía derechos fundamentales como la libertad de expresión. Sin embargo, durante los cinco años que mediaron entre la instauración del régimen –el 14 de abril de 1931- y el estallido de la guerra civil – el 18 de julio de 1936- la libertad de prensa fue progresivamente constreñida, e incluso anulada, al albur de leyes de excepción que favorecieron la injerencia gubernativa. La determinación de poner coto a una libertad inmoderada para la prensa quedó patente en la primera regulación del gobierno provisional –el Estatuto Jurídico de 15 de abril- que confería al ejecutivo el poder discrecional de someter a fiscalización los derechos que ese mismo decreto venía a reconocer. Con este primer esbozo normativo, el gabinete constituido por fuerzas republicanas y socialistas permitió y auspició intromisiones en la libre actividad periodística, decretando, en momentos coyunturales, suspensiones de periódicos por advertir en sus textos amenazas contra el régimen –como sucedió con la prensa tradicionalista vasco-navarra el 21 de agosto de 1931- o tolerando, con más frecuencia, que los gobernadores civiles prescribieran secuestros y clausuras de rotativos desafectos...

The proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic opened a wealth of democratic expectations which were reflected in the Constitution of December 1931, which recognized the freedom of expression as a fundamental right. However, during the five years between the introduction of the Regime, i.e. between 14 April 1931 and the outbreak of the Civil War on 18 July 1936, press freedom was progressively constrained and even canceled at the mercy of emergency laws that favored the governmental interference. The determination of an immoderate limitation of press freedom was evident in the first provisional government regulation - the Legal Status of 15 April - which gave power to the executive in order to control rights which that same decree came to recognize. With this first policy outline the cabinet which was formed by republican and socialist forces allowed and sponsored the interference of free journalism, decreeing at special occasions the suspensions of newspapers due to threats in the texts against the regime, such as happened with the traditional Basque-Navarro press on 21 August 1931: or tolerating more often the order of kidnapping and the closure of newspapers. Before the Carta Magna came into force, a law of exception regulated attacks against the regime. It received the eloquent name Protection Law of the Republic and was inserted as an additional transitional provision into the Constitution because the infringement of puplic freedom which was introduced was not compatable with the spirit of the Carta Magna. Since its approval the press came under permanent inspection and although the legislation put a veto on the implementation of sanctions against uncomfortable newspapers by civil governors, they used to use it to their own benefit. Even when journalists began to warn against the infringement in which the authorities were trying to intervene did they not stop their free exercise of journalism. However, civil governors recuperated a regional law which, while not designed to criminalize press offenses, helped them to impose sanctions for breaches of their authority...