Clara Campoamor, la española que hace 90 años consiguió el voto femenino

90th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage in Spain

Clara Campoamor's Historic Fight

• The 90th anniversary of women's suffrage in Spain commemorates the significant achievement led by lawyer and politician Clara Campoamor.

• On October 1, 1931, Clara Campoamor stood alone before a chamber of 470 men, passionately advocating for women's right to vote.

• Despite lacking support from her own party (the Radical Party) and facing opposition from other female representatives, Campoamor argued that the right to vote was not merely a privilege but a fundamental right.

Challenges Faced by Clara Campoamor

• Campoamor encountered resistance not only from her political party but also from a divided left and deeply reactionary right-wing factions.

• Her efforts culminated in a narrow victory for women's suffrage with 161 votes in favor and 121 against. This marked the first time Spanish women over the age of 23 could vote, starting in November 1933.

Impact and Aftermath

• Nearly seven million women participated in voting for the first time; however, this progress was short-lived due to the onset of the Civil War which interrupted their newly acquired rights.

• It wasn't until the general elections of 1977, after Franco's death, that women regained their voting rights. The evolution of women's rights has significantly progressed since then, particularly bolstered by a strong feminist movement over the last decade.