The
Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups (, CEDA) was a
Spanish political party in the
Second Spanish Republic. A
Catholic conservative force, it was the political heir to
Ángel Herrera Oria's
Acción Popular and defined itself in terms of the 'affirmation and defence of the principles of Christian civilization,' translating this theoretical stand into a practical demand for the revision of the republican constitution. The CEDA saw itself as a defensive organisation, formed to protect religion, family, and property. José María Gil-Robles declared his intention to "give Spain a true unity, a new spirit, a
totalitarian polity..." and went on to say "
Democracy is not an end but a means to the conquest of the new state. When the time comes, either
parliament submits or we will eliminate it." The CEDA held fascist-style rallies, called Gil-Robles "Jefe", the equivalent of
Duce, and claimed that the CEDA might lead a "March on Madrid" (similar to the
Italian Fascist March on Rome) to forcefully seize power.