For the first time since 1920 the Christian Democrats, which strongly supported the Catholic Church and clergy, did not obtain a political majority.

Lithuanian people were disillusioned with the party as it was shaken by several financial scandals,[2] did not cope with an economic crisis effectively,[3] and ran into diplomatic disputes with Vatican, which recognized Polish claims to the Vilnius Region.

It lifted martial law, still in effect in Kaunas and other localities, restored democratic freedoms, and declared broad amnesty to political prisoners.

[3] Communists quickly took advantage of the freedom of speech and held a protest, attended by approximately 400 people, in Kaunas on 13 June.

[4] The coalition government went head-to-head against the Christian Democrats when it proposed the cutting of salaries to the clergy and subsidies to Catholic schools from the 1927 budget.

The coup started on 17 December 1926, the 60th birthday of President Kazys Grinius as all important officials gathered in Kaunas for the celebration and before the 1927 budget with cuts to military and church was passed.

Smetona and Voldemaras, both representing the Lithuanian National Union, invited Christian Democrats to join them in forming a new government and restoring some constitutional legitimacy.

[4] Christian Democrats, who believed that the coup was just a temporary measure, demanded new elections to Seimas while Smetona stalled predicting that his party would not be popular and that he would not be reelected as the President.