Military victory President of Cuba Government First Second Legacy Political Career The 1952 Cuban coup d'état took place in Cuba on March 10, 1952, when the Cuban Constitutional Army, led by Fulgencio Batista, intervened in the election that was scheduled to be held on 1 June 1952, staging a coup d'état and establishing a de facto military dictatorship in the country.

As the presidency of Carlos Prío Socarrás came to a close, he became highly criticized for corruption, making Batista believe he could win in the following 1952 election.

Batista (a Senator at the time) ran under the label of his own United Action Party and believed his previous popularity would guarantee him victory.

Concerned about losing the 1952 presidential election Batista began to plot a coup with retired military officials and active troops.

Before then the ideas of José Martí were less important compared to his image as an authentic Cuban founding father whose invocation gave legitimacy to opposition organizations.