In The Second Republic
Under the republican regime he regained a leading political role, being appointed prime minister three times between and occupying the distinguished ministerial portfolios.
He was part of the coalition of leftists that supported the reforms of Manuel Azaña's government during the first biennium (1931–1933), during which time he served as minister of State (1931) and as Minister of Foreign Affairs between 14 April 1931 and 16 December 1931. From 12 September to 9 October 1933 he was Prime Minister.
After the victory of the Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right (CEDA) in the elections of autumn 1933, he again became prime minister, mainly because the President did not wish to appoint CEDA leader José María Gil-Robles. As such he served from 16 December 1933 to 28 April 1934 and again from 4 October 1934 to 25 September 1935. He also served as minister of war (1934), state (1935) and Foreign Affairs (1935).
After distinguishing himself in the repression of the attempted workers revolution of 1934, he was discredited by the Straperlo affaire (a case of corruption bound to casino authorization), that completely broke his alliance with the right and even weakened his position within the party.
In the elections of 1936 he was not even elected as a deputy, and when that same year the Spanish Civil War broke out, he preferred to place himself out of danger in Portugal. He returned to Spain in 1947.
Read more about this topic: Alejandro Lerroux
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