Estado Novo (1937)
Wed Nov 10, 1937
Image: Advertising poster for the Estado Novo, showing Vargas’s face looming over a rally of workers
On this day in 1937, a coup took place in Brazil when President Getúlio Vargas gave a national address declaring a state of emergency and abolishing the constitution. Vargas announced a new state - the “Estado Novo” - based on contemporary fascist governments in Italy and Poland, effectively giving himself autocratic powers.
The coup took place a few months before the end of Vargas’s legal term in office and impending elections in 1938. A false rumor of a communist plot to take over the government, known as the “Cohen Plan”, was also circulated through the media, although Vargas himself didn’t acknowledge it.
The new government greatly expanded the power of police, persecuted political dissidents, de facto banned union activity, and allowed Vargas to rule for the next eight years under what amounted to martial law. Vargas was eventually deposed by the military in a coup launched from his own War Ministry on October 29th, 1945, after the conclusion of World War II.
- Date: 1937-11-10
- Learn More: en.wikipedia.org, libcom.org.
- Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org
This is all true but it’s also important to note that he got back to the Presidency in 1951 for 3 years, period during which he became known as “father of the poor” due to his strong focus on social and labour reforms. He inaugurated what’s known in Brazil as “getulismo” which is to this day one of the strongest references of left-wing pro-worker policies.
Getúlio was a complex man.
