Podcast Summary: Todo Concostrina – "Cien años del Golpe de Primo de Rivera, un salva patrias mujeriego y ludópata"

Date: September 14, 2023
Host: Nieves Concostrina
Podcast: SER Podcast – Acontece que no es poco

Episode Overview

This episode marks the centenary of the coup led by Miguel Primo de Rivera on September 13, 1923. With her distinctive, incisive style, Nieves Concostrina revisits this tumultuous chapter in Spanish history, highlighting the climate of social unrest that enabled the dictatorship and the critical roles played by King Alfonso XIII and the political elites. The discussion exposes the myths surrounding Primo de Rivera, painting him as a manipulative, corrupt, and decadent figure whose regime was pivotal in shaping 20th-century Spain.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context and the "Bad News" Week in History

• Recent themes in the show have clustered around historical tragedies: the Chilean coup, the massacre of indigenous people, and now Primo de Rivera’s centennial coup.
  • Quote: “No es una semana de acontecidos sobre buenas noticias... Se cumplen 100 años desde que este salva patrias…” (02:17, A - Nieves)

2. The Catalysts of the Coup

• Setting: Migel Primo de Rivera’s background as Captain General of Catalonia amid severe social unrest—strikes, anarchist agitation, and a paralyzed Barcelona.
• He “reprimió mucho y bien” (repressed decisively), earning the support of wealthy Catalan conservatives.
  • Quote: “La burguesía catalana le aplaudió tanto que Primo pensó lo mismo me están aplaudiendo tanto aquí, con igual entusiasmo me aplauden en el resto del Estado. Y arreó el golpe.” (07:35, A - Nieves)
• The coup was improvised, shoddy, and risky, but Alfonso XIII's backing proved decisive.
  • Quote: “El golpe tuvo algo de improvisado, bastante de chapucero y mucho de arriesgado. Pero el apoyo de Alfonso XIII acabó por decantar la balanza del lado de Primo.” (05:00, A - quoting Alejandro Quiroga)

3. The Role of Alfonso XIII ("El Rey Perjuro")

• King Alfonso XIII is called the “rey perjuro” and depicted as a serial oath-breaker, consistent with the Bourbon tradition.
  • Quote: “Perjuros han sido todos los Borbones desde que tenemos constituciones. Todos han faltado al juramento.” (03:09, A - Nieves)
• Insight on oaths: Nieves distinguishes between promises and oaths, satirizing the latter’s reliance on "imaginary witnesses.”
  • Quote: “La promesa es muy personal, pero el juramento se hace poniendo de testigo a un ser de ficción. Se pone de testigo a Dios... Jamás hay que creer un juramento.” (03:23, A - Nieves)

4. Primo de Rivera: The "Campechano" Dictator

• Nicknamed the “second most campechano” leader in Spain after Juan Carlos I, Primo was a master at telling each faction what it wanted to hear.
  • Quote: “Primo de Rivera contó con tantos apoyos porque es que a cada uno le decía lo que quería escuchar...” (09:35, A - Nieves)
• Widespread support:
  • Conservative Catalans: promised repression of labor unrest and respect for Catalan identity.
  • Military centralists: promised crackdowns on nationalists.
  • Republicans: promised temporary tenure and prospect of a republic.
  • Monarchists: framed the coup as necessary to save the monarchy.
  • Africanistas: even those who distrusted him were placated.
• Called “un pedazo de mentiroso impresionante” (“a huge liar”) and an early master of propaganda.
  • Quote: “Con la mentira por delante se puede conseguir cualquier cosa. Sólo necesitas un pueblo ignorante que te las compre.” (10:30, A - Nieves)

5. The Machinery of Dictatorship: Censorship and Fake News

• Press censorship: All media was brought to heel; a new agency, Plus Ultra, was launched to manage foreign propaganda.
  • Quote: “Suspendió las garantías constitucionales y con ellas se cepilló la libertad de prensa. Todos los medios quedaron a su merced.” (11:10, A - Nieves)
• Suppression of regional languages: Catalan and Basque were banned, tying to ongoing cultural and political grievances.
• Inventing news: Primo’s openness in calling for “utilizar la fuente inagotable de la imaginación” to fill information gaps is highlighted as a precursor to today’s fake news culture.
  • Quote: “...se, abro comillas, utilizara la fuente inagotable de la imaginación.” (11:37, A - Nieves)
• Enemies: targeting labor unions, nationalists, republicans, and democrats.

6. The Personal Life and Hypocrisy of Primo de Rivera

• Far from the “proper Catholic, family man” image, Nieves recounts how he was notorious as a womanizer, gambler, and frequenter of brothels (“putero”).
  • Quote: “Era un tipo corrupto, era ludópata, era mujeriego, era putero. Luego ya no se sostenía ni lo de católico ni lo de ejemplar padre de familia.” (13:03, A - Nieves)
• Abuse of power: He arranged for the release of a madame friend (“la Caoba”) from jail, demonstrating selective justice and personal corruption.

7. Legacy and Exit

• The originally promised “brief parenthesis” of the dictatorship extended indefinitely—mirroring how Franco later justified his own tenure.
• Ultimately, the regime's broken promises and lack of legitimacy led to its collapse and the proclamation of the Republic.
  • Quote: “La República llegó porque los españoles vieron que ese tipo había traicionado al país con tal de mantener su poltrona. Pero un Borbón siempre estará al lado del que le asegure la poltrona...” (13:40, A - Nieves)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Satirical wisdom on oaths and promises:
  “Nunca hay que fiarse de alguien que te jure lo que sea, jamás hay que creer un juramento... porque nunca va a bajar [Dios] a pedir cuentas.” (03:23, A - Nieves)

• On the persistence of Bourbon betrayal:
  “Perjuros han sido todos los Borbones desde que tenemos constituciones.” (03:10, A - Nieves)

• Sharp commentary on political chicanery and propaganda:
  “Difundir fake news a saco. Porque ahí fue un maestro. Mucho menos burdas que las de Inda y Ferry, pero muchísimas.” (10:45, A - Nieves)

• Exposing the dictator’s personal failings:
  “Era un tipo corrupto, era ludópata, era mujeriego, era putero.” (13:03, A - Nieves)

Key Timestamps

• 02:17 – Introduction to the centenary of Primo de Rivera’s coup and its context
• 05:00 – Analysis of the coup’s improvisation and Alfonso XIII’s role (Alejandro Quiroga quote)
• 07:35 – Social unrest in Catalonia and bourgeois support for the coup
• 09:35 – Primo de Rivera’s duplicity in courting different factions
• 10:30 – The role of lies and propaganda in the rise to power
• 11:10 – Press censorship and suppression of regional languages
• 13:03 – Description of Primo de Rivera’s personal vices
• 13:40 – The collapse of the dictatorship and Bourbon opportunism

Tone & Style

Nieves Concostrina brings her hallmark blend of sharp historical insight, irreverent wit, and satirical commentary, making dense material accessible and engaging. The episode steers clear of academic jargon but offers pointed critiques of Spain’s persistent cycles of authoritarianism, always with a strong undercurrent of skepticism toward official narratives and the powerful.

Summary prepared for listeners who missed the episode or want a deep, timestamped recap of Nieves Concostrina’s take on Primo de Rivera’s coup and dictatorship.