MACI, FRANCESC

born Oct. 21, 1859, Villanueva y Geltr, Spain died Dec. 25, 1933, Barcelona Catalan leader and founder of the nationalist party Estat Catal (1922), who played a major role in achieving an autonomous status for Catalonia. In the turmoil after the collapse of Primo de Rivera's dictatorship, Maci formed the Republican Left of Catalonia, a coalition of the Catalan Republican Party, the Estat Catal, and a third party. After the electoral victory over the Spanish monarchy (April 1931), Maci proclaimed the Catalan Republic and immediately started a vigorous campaign for home rule. One year later (Sept. 9, 1932) the statute of Catalonian autonomy was promulgated. As head of the Catalan government, Maci had to face discontent on the left. In the resulting swing to the right, Maci's Republican Left was defeated in the election of Nov. 19, 1933. He died five weeks later.