Constitutional Party (Spain)

The Constitutional Party (Spanish: Partido Constitucional) was a Spanish political party active during the reigns of Isabella II and the early years of the Restoration. It emerged as a moderate political force, largely composed of elements from the more conservative wing of the Progressive Party and the moderate wing of the Moderate Party, following the revolutionary events of 1868 that ousted Isabella II.

The party's ideology centered around a constitutional monarchy, advocating for a balance between royal power and parliamentary sovereignty. They aimed for a stable government that respected individual rights and freedoms while maintaining social order. A key figure associated with the party was General Francisco Serrano, who played a prominent role in the 1868 revolution and served as Regent of Spain.

The Constitutional Party participated in the elections of 1869, convoked after the revolution to draft a new constitution. They supported the Constitution of 1869, which established a democratic monarchy. During the reign of King Amadeo I (1871-1873), the Constitutional Party, led by Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, often competed for power with the Radical Party of Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla.

Following the First Republic (1873-1874) and the restoration of the monarchy under Alfonso XII, the Constitutional Party, still led by Sagasta, gradually evolved into the Liberal Party, which would become one of the two major political forces, along with the Conservative Party, that dominated Spanish politics during the Restoration period. The Liberal Party continued to advocate for a constitutional monarchy with a broader franchise and greater emphasis on individual liberties.