1960 Salvadoran coup d'état

1960 Salvadoran coup d'état
Date October 26, 1960 Location El Salvador Result Coup attempt successful Formation of short-lived military junta
Belligerents
Armed Forces of El Salvador	Dissenting faction of the armed forces
Commanders and leaders
José María Lemus	César Yanes Urías

The 1960 Salvadoran coup d'état was the successful overthrow in El Salvador of the José Maria Lemus administration by leftist elements of the military and civilians. The coup resulted in establishing a six-person military junta composed of three military officials and three civilians led by Colonel César Yanes Urías. After three months, the military junta was deposed in a countercoup by the military establishment, determined to "rid the country of communism."

The successful coup attempt followed a period of civil unrest against the Lemus government, with student demonstrations being held demanding the resignation of President Lemus and the establishment of a truly democratic system in El Salvador. The demonstrations were inspired by Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution. A declining economy caused by lower coffee and cotton export prices and repressive electoral legislation were primary contributors. In response, President Lemus backtracked on his initial reformist policies of general amnesty for political dissidents and abolishment of repressive policies by the previous regimes. He further reversed his policies by reinstating authoritarian laws such as banning of free expression and assembly, and arbitrary detaining of political opponents.

Recognizing the untenable situation and President Lemus' loss of control, the military staged a bloodless coup, deposing him on October 26, 1960. The transitional military junta that took power shortly after, which was named the Junta of Government, proclaimed the continued use of the 1950 Constitution and promised elections. In spite of initial opposition from the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and concern from the US intelligence community, the United States extended recognition to the provisional government.

Three months later on January 25, 1961, a military coup led by Colonel Aníbal Portillo deposed the Junta of Government and established a new military junta named the Civic-Military Directory. Martial law was temporarily imposed from January 25 until January 30. Elections were eventually held in December of that year and a provisional president was elected on January 8, 1962.