[2] The military junta had ruled Greece since a group of middle-ranking officers, under the leadership of Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos, staged a coup on 21 April 1967.

King Constantine II reluctantly endorsed the coup, but started preparing for a counter-coup by elements of the armed forces loyal to him.

Upon reaching Italy, Captain Nikolaos Pappas and 31 officers and crew disembarked and asked for political asylum, garnering worldwide interest.

The failed Navy revolt demonstrated that even after six years of junta "normality," the opposition had not died off, and that it existed even amongst large parts of the armed forces, which were the regime's main internal supporter.

[clarification needed][4][5] Papadopoulos promised a return to democratic and parliamentary rule, based on the provisions of the new Constitution, and appointed Spyros Markezinis as Prime Minister, and he called elections for 10 February 1974.