March 1952, Laureano Gómez Government

Due to the 1949 Election that was boycotted by the Colombian Liberal Party there has been calls for a new election that actually encompasses all citizens of Colombia. While there have been numerous Liberal Party politicians who have supported the initiative, President Gómez has said "You do not participate in elections, so you have no right to call them". This statement has of course inflamed the supporters of the Liberal Party, so much so that the violence in the rural areas of Colombia have increased dramatically. The political sectarian conflict in the rural regions has caused the agricultural hubs to be unable to supply foodstuffs to the rest of the country, something that could cause famines and the breakdown of the Colombian government. President Gómez has been in the eyes of his critics; too quiet about La Violencia and the rebel elements of Colombian society. His quietest approach to the Liberals not only has caused his supporters to waver, but more important has caused a lack of faith within the armed forces.

Unfortunately for President Gómez, the vastly popular Colonel Gustavo Rojas Pinilla is a known Ospinist and has spoken largely against the Presidential supporting Laureanists. Due to his known political affiliation, the armed forces under his command have largely swapped their loyalty to Pinilla himself and not the Colombian state. There were a lot of murmerings that Pinilla had gained the support of six out of the eight highest ranking military officials who largely agreed with Pinilla's centrist ideology. At this point, former president Ospina resolved to move decisively against Gómez. The former president contacted Rojas, who was at his finca in Melgar. Rojas, who had been waiting for the situation to erupt, took the Caldas Battalion to the Casa de Nariño and, with Gómez nowhere to be found, offered power to interim president Urdaneta. Urdaneta, however, refused to take power without Gómez's resignation. At this point, Rojas and the coup plotters hesitated, unsure of their next course of action. The testimony of Minister of War Pabón, corroborated by Urbaneta, described the confusion of the next key few minutes:

"I told Rojas... "there is no choice but for you to assume power, otherwise anarchy will reign." I opened the door of the office where Dr. Ospina and Dr. Urdaneta were speaking, and I told them: "I have come to tell you that General Rojas has just assumed the Presidency of the Republic." Dr. Ospina got up and with a markedly Antioquian accent told me: "Well, given the facts, there is no remedy in this case other than to accept it." I told them, "I think you should be the first to offer your support." I took the two of them to Rojas and I surprised him by saying: "Dr. Ospina and Dr. Urdaneta have come to offer you their support, aware that you have assumed the presidency." Rojas didn't know what to do. General Berrío Muñoz began to applaud and all the people applauded and thus Rojas was elected, very democratically."

Shortly after the bloodless coup was consolidated, it emerged that Gómez fled with his family to New York City, solidifying Rojas' assumption of power. The coup is being supported by the Ospinist Conservatives as well as Liberals, who all hope that Rojas will re-establish peace and political order in the nation.