Galician Socialist Party (1963)

The Galician Socialist Party (Partido Socialista Galego, in Galician language) was a socialist and Galician nationalist political party active in Galiza.

Founded on 23 August 1963 with the intention of forming a nationalist and social democratic party in Galiza, subsequently radicalized its positions, approaching the communist Galician People's Union (UPG).

Its secretary general between 1971 and 1977 was Xosé Manuel Beiras. The PSG presented a candidacy to the general elections of 15 June 1977, getting 27,197 votes (2.41%) in Galiza and no deputies.

In the 80s a break occurred inside the party: one part is integrated into the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) while others joined the Galician Left, forming a new party known as the Galician Socialist Party-Galician Left (PSG-EG). Later the PSG-EG also joined the BNG.

Foundation

Among its founders stand out Mario Orxajes Pita, Salvador Rei, Salvador García Bodaño, Xosé Luís Rodríguez Pardo, Cesáreo Saco, Manuel Caamaño and Ramón Piñeiro, that created the party in a clandestine meeting.

The new party attracted former members of the Partido Galeguista as Francisco Fernández del Riego, who was elected party president, Luis Viñas Cortegoso, Amado Losada, Domingo Pombo and young influenced by Ramón Piñeiro like Xosé Manuel Beiras or Ramón Lugrís.

History

In 1965 starts editing the Adiante (Forward, in Galician language) magazine in Perpignan, that since 1969 was published in Galiza named Galicia Socialista.

In 1972 the PSG selected Xosé Manuel Beiras as the party general secretary. This led the PSG to a ideological radicalization and to an increase of its membership. The PSG accepts the theory of internal colonialism and marxism. In 1974 the PSG participates in the Iberian Socialist Conference (CSI), with the PSOE, the Socialist Movement of Catalonia (MSC), the Socialist Party of the Valencian Country (PSPV) and the Unión Sindical Obrera (USO). In 1976 the PSG, MSC, PSPV and the USO broke with the PSOE and formed the Federation of Socialist Parties (FPS). In 1975 the Galician Socialist Movement joined the PSG.

The poor results of the general elections of 1977 and the PSOE pressures caused the rupture of the FPS, and the PSG entered in a severe crisis. Xosé Manuel Beiras left the party leadership and some supporters wanted to approach to the PSOE. This group organized the Socialist Collective-PSG led by Xosé Luis Rodríguez Pardo, Ceferino Díaz and Fernando González Laxe, that had around 100 militants. The direction opted to expel the this group from the PSG. After the expulsion they joined the PSOE.

The PSG participated in the Galician Unity (UG) coalition to take part in the general and local elections in 1979, but unlike the other member parties of UG, refused to join the Committee of the 16, that had to prepare the draft for the Statute of Autonomy.

At the Second Congress in June 1980 the possibility to merge with the Galician Workers Party was discarded, but the creation of the Mesa de Forzas Políticas Galegas with the Galician National-Popular Bloc was approved. This decision to approach the BNPG caused a strong discontent within the PSG and many militants left the party after this congress.

For the elections of 1981, the PSG made an electoral coalition with the BNPG. Of the three members elected, Claudio González Garrido was a member of the PSG. When the BNG was formed, the PSG joined the new front, but in 1983 decided to leave. This decision led to the disintegration of the party: one part entered the BNG as the Socialist Collective and the rest, led by Domingos Merino, merged with the Galician Left in 1984 to form the PSG-EG.

Militants

The PSG was a party of cadres. Until 1975 it did not exceed 100 members, and reached 650 in 1980.

Gallery

• 

  Poster of the 1977 congress of the PSG. The PSG never advocated for the independence of Galiza but defended a federation of the peoples of Spain.

References

• Fermí Rubiralta, De Castelao a Mao, 1998.
• Miguel Anxo Fernández Baz, A formación do nacionalismo galego contemporáneo (1963–1984), Santiago de Compostela, 2003.
• Francisco Pillado and Miguel Anxo Fernán-Vello, Conversas con Xosé Manuel Beiras, Santiago de Compostela, 1989.
• Manuel Rivas, Crise en Unidade Galega, rebumbio na esquerda, Man Común 1, 1980.
• Bernardo Máiz, Galicia na II República e baixo o franquismo, Vigo, 1988.