A Hopeful Winter, an Effervescent Spring and a Revolutionary Summer

For a few months in the second half of 1946, Paraguay’s public life began to smile again. Unions returned, freedom of expression was restored, exiles came home and political activity surged. The brief opening became known as the “Democratic Spring.”

President Higinio Morínigo, whose government had until then relied on one sector of the armed forces, was forced to adopt a pluralist position. He restored press freedom and repealed the decrees that had established and regulated the political truce imposed in 1940. After the announcement of a coalition government led by Morínigo and including febreristas, Colorados and military representatives, thousands gathered at Plaza Independencia. Representatives of four political groups, the Paraguayan Workers’ Council and the Paraguayan University Federation delivered speeches.

Hipólito Sánchez Quell captured the contradiction of the moment in one sentence: “The dictator is no longer the dictator. The dictator is a prisoner of a democratic cabinet.” The lifting of restrictions also allowed Liberal leader José P. Guggiari, febrerista Rafael Franco, Communist Oscar Creydt and other leaders to return. Parties, unions and associations emerged into public life as they campaigned to take part in a National Constituent Assembly that would produce a new constitution.

But the political opening collided with the existing constitutional order. Article 94 of the 1940 Constitution barred amendments until ten years after its promulgation, meaning reform could not begin before July 1950. In practice, politics took precedence over the law, on the argument that a shared political goal mattered more than constitutional procedure. That solution never materialized. Civic enthusiasm turned into a contest of strength and numbers among parties with different interests, producing violence.

From June through December 1946, the country saw about 60 political activities, including assemblies, rallies, demonstrations, marches, public gatherings, radio speeches and party tours through the interior. The brief season of freedom ended as unresolved tensions carried Paraguay toward the civil war of 1947, followed by a long period of party dominance and later dictatorship.

“

The dictator is no longer the dictator. The dictator is a prisoner of a democratic cabinet.