Coup in Greece!

12 March 1935 - Forces led by Nikolaos Plastiras successfully deposed the government of Panagis Tsaldaris today when they seized Athens. Eleftherios Venizelo was immediately declared prime minister by liberal forces. PM Venizelo has promised free and open elections once the situation in Greece has been secured and conflict in the outlying peripheries have ended.

Rumors have begun to emerge of the creation of a military tribunal to purge Hellenic forces of pro-royalist members. Various leaders of the conservative parties have also been arrested including Ioannis Metaxas, Ioannis Rallis and Georgios Stratos. Many are proclaiming this as a sign of revolution. Others embrace it as a chance for stability after years of chaos. How long that stability will last is the question with Italian ships in the Aegean just off the coast and Bulgarian and Turkish forces mobilized at the borders.

The underlying reasons for the coup, as stated by the Liberal Party, were attempts by Tsaldaris to push them out of government, to depose the Republic, and to return King George II to the throne.

SOURCE: To Vima