page_title: Lorenzo Alier Cassi
section_title: Return to politics
hierarchical_section_title: Lorenzo Alier Cassi / Return to politics
caption_attribution_description: Català: Taula presidencial d'un míting organitzat pel Cercle Tradicionalista. Teatre Bosque, Barcelona
context_page_description: Lorenzo María Alier Cassi was a Spanish Catalan lawyer and politician. In jurisprudence he is known as author and co-author of few encyclopedic works and as dean of the Barcelona Colegio de Abogados in 1939-1942. In politics he remained a Carlist throughout all his life. His career climaxed twice; in 1907-1910 he served one term in the lower chamber of the Cortes, and in 1934-1936 he was leader of the regional Catalan branch of the Carlist organization, Comunión Tradicionalista.
context_section_description: Alier re-emerged in politics during the final months of Berenguer's dictablanda; in February 1931 he entered the re-constituted Carlist Junta Regional. There is very little information on his activity during the early Republican period and it seems that he was a rather passive member of the executive; he is neither mentioned by historiographic works on Carlism which cover the 1931-1932 period nor listed in the press. It is not clear what was his position versus issues the party had to face, like the question of Catalan autonomy. However, some sources suggest that he represented the line close to this pursued by the regional leader Miguel Junyent; it steered clear of sectarian intransigence, let alone conspiracy and violence.
  In mid-1933 Junyent resigned, embittered with radical opposition he faced within the regional party ranks. The claimant Alfonso Carlos replaced him with representative of the intransigents, Mauricio de Sivatte, yet the issue is not clear. Some authors claim that due to internal opposition Sivatte has never fully taken over or that he exercised his jefatura provisionally; others maintain that the moderates stroke back and convinced their king to revert to previous line, this time represented by Alier. His official nomination as the Catalan Carlist jefé came in March 1934.
  During his tenure Alier had to carry out major re-organisation of Catalan Carlist structures, ordered for the entire party by its new nationwide executive. Revamp of female branch proved easy, but integration of Requeté militia into the nationwide framework caused significant resistance; Alier overcame it with a number of firm circulars. In debate over a monarchical alliance Alier sided with opponents of any deal with the Alfonsinos, though it seems that his position was highly influenced by Sivatte. When enforcing this strategy he had to confront local fronda, headed by Joaquín Bau, but enjoyed full support of the claimant. In early 1935 he presided over a Traditionalist Week in Catalonia, yet he relatively seldom appeared on party rallies. During his jefatura Alier remained an administrator rather than a genuine leader; major rehaul of Catalan structures, carried out in late 1935, was driven by the national party jefé Manuel Fal; Alier's role was this of executing the process agreed.
  In late 1935 Alier grew tired of constant political strife and handed over his resignation; the claimant agreed, though he asked him to carry on until after the 1936 elections. He also nominated Alier to Consejo de Comunión Tradicionalista, a newly formed 5-member advisory body supposed to assist Fal Conde; at this position he supported the regentialist solution, contemplated by Don Alfonso Carlos. A “Lorenzo Alier” was initially anticipated to join La alianza de las derechas and run for the Cortes in February 1936, yet it is not clear whether the person in question was Alier Cassi or his son, Alier Espada; in any case the candidature has been eventually dropped from the list. In late February 1936 his resignation was made public; as Catalan Carlist jefé Alier was replaced by Tomás Cayla.
caption: Carlist rally, Barcelona, 1930s
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