Second government of Antonio Maura

The second government of Antonio Maura, was formed on 25 January 1907, 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 the Marquis of Vega de Armijo's resignation from the post on 24 January.^[2][3] It succeeded the Vega de Armijo government and was the government of Spain from 25 January 1907 to 21 October 1909, a total of 1,000 days, or 2 years, 8 months and 26 days.^[4]

The cabinet comprised members of the Conservative Party and two military officers.^[5] It came to be known as the "Long Government" (gobierno largo),^[6][7] due the length of its tenure when compared to that of previous cabinets: thirteen governments had succeeded each other in the five years since the coming of age of Alfonso XIII on 17 May 1902.^[8] It resigned following the political crisis resulting from the Tragic Week and Francisco Ferrer's execution.^[9]

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.^[10][11]

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.^[12] 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.^[13][14] 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.^[15]

King Alfonso XIII held a round of consultations on 24–25 January 1907 to determine a solution to the political crisis arising from Vega de Armijo's resignation.^[16][17][18]

The outcome of the consultations led Alfonso XIII to entrust the formation of a new government to the Marquis of Vega de Armijo, who declined the nomination due to the internal divisions within the Liberal Party;^[20] then to Antonio Maura, who accepted the nomination.^[1]

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

• The governments of the second period of the Conservative Party (1907–1909) (under Alfonso XIII). Lluís Belenes i Rodríguez History Page (in Spanish).