Expulsion of Montoneros from Plaza de Mayo
| Date | May 1, 1974 |
|---|---|
| Location | Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires |
| Participants |
Juan Perón Montoneros |
| Outcome | Montoneros are expelled from Peronism, and become a clandestine organization |
The expulsion of Montoneros from Plaza de Mayo was a key event of the third presidency of Juan Perón. It took place on May 1, 1974, during celebrations of International Workers' Day.
The Montoneros was a guerilla organization created in the early 1970s during the Argentine Revolution military dictatorship. President Juan Perón had been deposed in 1955 and Peronism was proscribed since then; Perón was living in Spain at the time. Local politics were influenced by the Cold War: left-wing groups attempted to seize power, deposing the right-wing dictatorship. As a result, Peronism and militant organizations worked together to stifle them.
Differences arose when they finally succeeded, and de facto president Alejandro Lanusse was called to elections, lifting the proscription over Peronism. Héctor José Cámpora was elected president, but resigned shortly after, and Perón was elected president afterwards. Montoneros curtailed their militant attacks after the calling for elections, but the non-Peronist groups like the People's Revolutionary Army did not, and were outlawed. Montoneros were initially accepted within Peronism, but to a very low degree. For instance, Perón refused to recognize the informal military ranks used within their organizations for top Montonero personnel. Perón favored labour unions and common Peronist politicians instead.
Montoneros still thought that Perón was sympathetic to them, and that his reservations were caused by the people close to him, who were misinforming him. Thus, they believed that they had to get rid of intermediaries to have direct contact with Perón. This led to the murder of the union leader José Ignacio Rucci, who was close to Perón. But the consequence was the opposite of what was expected, and Perón condemned them for it.
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