El Cuartelazo de Pasto

Abstract

The political antagonism between the Liberal and Conservative parties reached their historical nadir during the second administration of Alfonso López Pumarejo. The Armed Forces were not absent from this confrontation. They were approached to build solidarities or unrest, support or opposition. The Pasto Putsch, just as conspiracy outbreaks or attempts, are evidence of this situation. This article describes and carefully analyzes the episodes surrounding both the period and event in question, how it unfolded, and its historic interpretations. It clearly shows that the subversive radicalism of a Conservative faction, as well as the dissatisfaction and resentment felt by some members of the military, were too evident to detach them from the conspiracy effort.