1961 Salvadoran coup d'état

1961 Salvadoran coup d'état

Map of El Salvador
Date25 January 1961
Location
El Salvador
Result

Counter-coup successful

  • Formation of anti-Communist military junta
  • Outlawing of communist parties
Belligerents
Junta of Government Armed Forces (rebels)
Commanders and leaders
César Yanes Urías Aníbal Portillo

The 1961 Salvadoran coup d'état was a successful countercoup in El Salvador led by Colonel Aníbal Portillo against the short-lived Junta of Government that had taken power in 1960, replacing the reformist military junta with an ardent anti-communist government named the Civic-Military Directory. By the end of that year, military governance had given way to democratic rule.[1]

Motives behind the military overthrow were reactionary in nature, driven by military fears of a Communist takeover within the country,[2] due to the perceived sympathies of the reformist junta towards Communist and Cuban influence.[3] These concerns were further exacerbated by the visit to Cuba by far-left Salvadoran extremists, spurring the disunited Armed Forces to unify in safeguarding the state from Communism.[2]

On 25 January 1961, the planned military coup, which had the backing of every top army official, was finally executed, ending in the successful deposing of the six-man civilian-military junta. The avowedly anti-communist Civic-Military Directory that succeeded them permitted the continued activity of all non-Communist political parties ahead of planned congressional elections.[2] Meanwhile, Communist parties were outlawed.[4] The new government promised early elections, social and agrarian reforms, along with close cooperation with the United States.[3] The US promptly extended diplomatic recognition to the military junta on February 15.[1]

Fulfilling their promise to return the country to constitutional government, constituent assembly elections were held in December.[1] On 5 January 1962, the newly drafted constitution was approved by the Constituent Assembly.[1] Three days later on 8 January, a provisional president was elected: Eusebio Rodolfo Cordón Cea.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "20. El Salvador (1927–present)". uca.edu. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "DAILY BRIEF: THE COMMUNIST BLOC" (PDF).
  3. ^ a b "Recognition of New Government of El Salvador". history.state.gov.
  4. ^ "EL SALVADOR" (PDF). systemicpeace.org.
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