However, on 19 October 1921 ("the night of blood"), a military coup resulted in several republican figures being killed, including PLR prime minister António Granjo.

[3] On the night of blood, President António José de Almeida invested Manuel Maria Coelho as Prime Minister, but his government resigned on 3 November.

[6] The Democratic Party failed to win an absolute majority of seats and Afonso Costa chose not to form government.

[6] However, the government failed to serve a full term after being forced to resign following a motion of no confidence in November 1923.

[8] Further instability resulted in seven different governments holding office in the subsequent period until the 1925 elections.