The Preventive Coup of 1955, or November 11th Movement, is the name given to the events that resulted in the counter-coup organized by Henrique Teixeira Lott, on November 11, 1955. Lott argued that the counter-coup was being carried out to guarantee the possession of Juscelino Kubitschek, threatened by the udenistas.
Background
The Preventive Coup of 1955 was a consequence of the serious political crisis that affected Brazil during the second government of Getúlio Vargas and, mainly, of Vargas' suicide in August 1954. This crisis policy extended to the question of succession to the presidency and highlighted the problems of Brazilian democracy.
The crisis of the Vargas government was directly related to the opposition of the National Democratic Union (UDN), a liberal and conservative party that emerged in the country in 1945. The government of Getúlio Vargas was attacked by several ways, because of its nationalist project, which led to the creation of Petrobras, and because of the interventionist action of the State in the economy.
Udenistas, many of them linked to international interests, opposed this project and began a period of great turmoil and attacks – many unfounded – against Getúlio. The scenario worsened with the readjustment of the minimum wage by 100% and with the Tonelero Street Attack. The situation became, therefore, unsustainable, leading the president to suicide.
Elections of 1955
After the suicide of Getúlio Vargas, the post of president of Brazil was occupied by his vice, Café Filho. In theory, Café Filho's mandate would last until January 31, 1956, when the president chosen in a presidential election to take place in October 1955 would take office. .
In early 1955, many members of the UDN - of which the great highlight was Carlos Lacerda – began to advocate the annulment of the 1955 presidential election and to demand the imposition of a buffer government, named by them as an “emergency government”. This speech was, of course, a serious challenge to the 1946 Constitution and to the Brazilian democracy of the Fourth Republic.
Also see: Fourth Brazilian Republic
This speech by the udenistas reflected the pessimism that had taken hold among the party's cadres due to the candidacy of Juscelino Kubitschek. Defeated in 1945 and 1950, the udenistas saw the chances of a new defeat, now in 1955, quite high, due to JK's popularity. Thus, their claims were intended to prevent the “getulistas” from returning to power.
It was in this climate of pessimism and defense of the coup that the UDN launched its candidates for the presidential race:Juarez Távora for presidency, and Milton Campos for vice presidency. On the other hand, PSD and PTB, once again, allied themselves and announced their names in February 1955:Juscelino Kubitschek and João Goulart. Other candidates who ran in the 1955 election were Ademar from Barros (PSP) and Pliny Salty (PRP).
Conservatives were so desperate with JK's candidacy that, in September 1955, Carlos Lacerda read a document called the Brandi Letter. This letter, supposedly addressed to João Goulart, showed a connection between the politician and the government of Perón, in Argentina. The content of the letter revealed the intention to start an armed revolution and to establish a unionist republic in Brazil. Further investigation proved the document to be a forgery.
Despite JK's favoritism and Juarez Távora's campaign being considered weak, the result was quite tight. Juscelino Kubitschek was elected with 36% of votes against 30% for Juarez Távora, 26% for Ademar de Barros and 8% for Plínio Salgado. For vice, João Goulart was elected, with 44% of the votes.
When they realized that they would be defeated again in an election, the udenistas joined forces to prevent the inauguration of Juscelino Kubitschek and began to attack the principle of legality and claim that JK had been elected due to a communist plot. An anti-communist group at the time claimed that JK's victory had been the result of an electorate “formed by the ignorant, suffering, disillusioned mass, worked by the most sordid of demagogues and poisoned by the sly propaganda of the Communist Party”|1| .
Another desperate argument from the UDN was the contestation of JK's victory, claiming that he had not achieved an absolute majority of the votes, which made his inauguration “illegitimate”. The purpose of these arguments was, of course, to remove PSD and PTB from power so that the UDN could rise as a national political force.
This situation lasted throughout the year, intensifying in October, when the presidential election that determined JK's victory was held. On November 1, a colonel named Jurandir Mamede spoke in defense of a military coup against the inauguration of Juscelino Kubitschek. Mamede's speech ignited the dispute between coup plotters and loyalists and deeply displeased General Henrique Teixeira Lott.
General Henry Teixeira Lott he held the Ministry of War and was known for being a staunch supporter of legalism, that is, for Lott, regardless of who had won the election in October, constitutional legality had to be enforced. Soon, JK should take over. Lott used his influence to fight communists and radical conservatives – such as Carlos Lacerda.
The big issue was that Colonel Mamede was a member of the Escola Superior de Guerra, so only the president had the power to punish him. Lott asked President Café Filho to punish the rebel colonel, which did not happen, as Café Filho was removed from the presidency on November 3, 1955, due to health problems.
Thus, the then president of the Chamber of Deputies, Carlos Light , assumed the presidency of Brazil on November 8. Carlos Luz, however, was notoriously a politician who opposed Juscelino Kubitschek and was, therefore, a defender of the coup idea fed by the UDN cadres. This caused Carlos Luz to deny Lott's request to punish Mamede.
With the president's refusal, Lott resigned from the Ministry of War on November 10 and, the following day, supported by many army generals, organized a countercoup , known as the Preventive Coup of 1955. Lott claimed to have organized this countercoup to neutralize the action of the conspiracy against JK's tenure.
Lott's action was fulminating:tanks were placed on the streets and in strategic places, which were taken over by the military that supported Lott. The acting president, Carlos Luz, hastily fled on the Tamandaré vessel. Lott, on the other hand, acted quickly and obtained from the political cadres the recognition of the deposition of Carlos Luz.
Brazilian politicians announced the inauguration of Nereu Ramos , president of the Senate, as president of Brazil. With the inauguration of Nereu Ramos, Brazil was governed in a state of siege until the ratification of the inauguration of Juscelino Kubitschek. Thus, the military coup carried out by Lott guaranteed the continuity of legality in Brazil, but highlighted the weaknesses of Brazilian democracy.
|1| SKIDMORE, Thomas E. Brazil:from Getúlio to Castello (1930-1964). São Paulo:Companhia das Letras, 2010, p. 186.
*Image credits:FGV/CPDOC