The elections were called after President Niceto Alcalá Zamora was dismissed by Congress due to irregularities in the dissolution of the House in 1936, which was declared ‘unjustified’.

This was due to the main opposition party, the right-wing CEDA, boycotting the process, a decision which was widely criticized, to no avail.

The Popular Front did contest the elections, nominating Manuel Azaña as its presidential candidate on April 30, as well as minor right-wing parties in different provinces.

With 847 members out of 911 present, Azaña was elected with 754 votes (from the Popular Front, Republican Conservatives, Radicals, Centrists and nationalists), and therefore became the new president of the Spanish Republic.

He took the oath of office the following day, and after tense negotiations, Galician regionalist politician Santiago Casares Quiroga became the new prime minister.