Coup Atlas Research Database
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15001221955ConspiracyMilitary coup

Paraguay, 1955 — military coup conspiracy

Paraguay (PRY)South America, AmericasJanuary 22, 1955

Event Summary

The dataset records an event coded as a military and dissident coup conspiracy in Paraguay on 22 January 1955, during the first year of General Alfredo Stroessner's rule after he seized power in the May 1954 coup that overthrew President Federico Chaves. United States diplomatic records describe several abortive plots during Stroessner's first year in office, aimed principally at his powerful ally Epifanio Mendez Fleitas but with the position of President Stroessner probably also at stake, to which the government and the Colorado Party Junta responded with effective political reprisals. This was a period of intense intra-Colorado and military-versus-party factional maneuvering as Stroessner worked to sideline both the Chaves and Mendez factions and consolidate personal control.

The coded January 1955 conspiracy fits this pattern of abortive plots during Stroessner's consolidation, which he survived to rule until 1989.

Researched Details

Researched

Independent research, added record by record. Hover any label for what it means.

Target identified in Coup Atlas research: Stroessner suppressed the abortive plots and consolidated a 35-year dictatorship
RESEARCHED NAME
Key figures
Alfredo Stroessner (military ruler of Paraguay, target)
Epifanio Mendez Fleitas (Stroessner ally and rival focal point)
Dissident Colorado and military factions (plotters)

Sources

The virtual exclusion of dissident Colorado elements led to several abortive plots during Stroessner's first year in office, aimed principally at Mendez, although the position of President Stroessner probably also was at stake.
SOURCE REVIEWED U.S. State Department, FRUS 1955-57 vol. VII open source ↗
The government and the Colorado Party Junta responded to these conspiracies with effective political reprisals.
SOURCE REVIEWED U.S. State Department, FRUS 1955-57 vol. VII open source ↗
Stroessner seized power on 4 May 1954 by overthrowing Federico Chaves, and over the following three years worked to sideline leaders of both factions of the divided Colorado Party.
SOURCE REVIEWED Wikipedia, 1954 Paraguayan coup d'etat open source ↗
Mendez Fleitas later prepared to stage a coup in late December 1955, prompting Stroessner to purge the military of his supporters and send him into exile in 1956.
SOURCE REVIEWED Wikipedia, Dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner open source ↗

Editorial Note

FRUS documents several abortive plots during Stroessner's first year in office; the coded 22 January 1955 falls within that window. Recorded as verified context, distinct from the May 1954 coup that brought Stroessner to power and from the separate December 1955 Mendez Fleitas coup attempt. Continues the Paraguay run.

Cross-Reference

Only one dataset carries it. One of the three reference datasets we check against carries this event; the others do not list it. That is not a contradiction — the datasets cover different periods and use different thresholds — but it means the record has had less outside corroboration.

Identifiers for finding this same event in the other datasets:

Cline Center id
15001221955

How the match is made is described in crossref-report.md.

Outcome and Target

Coup Atlas research identifies the target as: Stroessner suppressed the abortive plots and consolidated a 35-year dictatorship.

Baseline coding: Plot discovered and disrupted before execution. Recorded leader fate: remained in office; not physically harmed. The baseline file does not name individual targets; researched names are kept in a separate layer.

Baseline Dataset Citation

Cline Center Coup d’État Project Dataset, v2.2.2
Peyton, Buddy, Joseph Bajjalieh, Michael Martin, and Andrea Gerald. 2026. Cline Center Coup d’État Project Dataset. Cline Center for Advanced Social Research. V.2.2.2. February 17. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. doi: 10.13012/B2IDB-9651987_V10
⚑ This citation establishes the coded baseline record; use the claim-level sources above for the researched narrative.

Baseline Source-Document Entries

New York Herald Tribune

“Paraguay Says Plot Is Thwarted: Interior Minister Identifies Rebels,” January 26, 1955

New York Times

“Plot in Paraguay Reported Nipped: Stroessner Regime Asserts Former Head of Colorado Party Was Ringleader,” January 26, 1955

The Sun

“Plot to Overthrow President Crushed, Paraguay Reports,” January 26, 1955

This is the citation trail carried by the baseline dataset, grouped by outlet and rejoined from the line-wrapped original. Coup Atlas has not independently re-checked every document; read the original before citing a specific claim. URLs the import damaged beyond safe repair are shown as plain text and listed in citations-report.md. How this list is built →

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