Montoneros and the Plaza de Mayo Expulsion of 1974
On May 1, 1974, the political landscape of Argentina shifted dramatically during a celebration of International Workers' Day. What began as a mass demonstration at the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires ended in a public and definitive rupture between President Juan Perón and the Montoneros, a militant guerrilla organization. This event marked the end of the Montoneros' presence within the Peronist movement and pushed the group back into a clandestine existence.
Key Facts
- Date: May 1, 1974.
- Location: Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Primary Figures: Juan Perón, Isabel Perón, and the Montoneros.
- Catalyst: The murder of union leader José Ignacio Rucci and insults directed at Isabel Perón.
- Outcome: Montoneros were expelled from Peronism and later designated as a subversive organization.
The Rise of the Montoneros and Peronist Tension
The Montoneros emerged in the early 1970s during the Argentine Revolution, a period of military dictatorship. At the time, Juan Perón had been deposed (1955) and lived in exile in Spain, while Peronism—the political movement based on his ideologies—was proscribed, or legally banned. Influenced by the global Cold War, left-wing militant groups sought to overthrow the right-wing dictatorship.
When de facto president Alejandro Lanusse lifted the ban on Peronism and called for elections, the political climate shifted. While Héctor José Cámpora initially won the presidency and later resigned, Juan Perón eventually returned to power. Although the Montoneros reduced their militant attacks to facilitate this transition, their relationship with Perón was strained from the start. Perón favored traditional labor unions and established politicians over the militants, refusing to recognize the informal military ranks the Montoneros used for their leadership.
Believing that Perón was merely being misinformed by advisors, the Montoneros attempted to remove these "intermediaries" to gain direct access to the President. This misguided strategy led to the assassination of José Ignacio Rucci, a prominent union leader and close confidant of Perón. Rather than bringing them closer to the President, the murder provoked Perón's condemnation.
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The Confrontation at Plaza de Mayo
The tension reached a breaking point during the government-organized demonstration on May 1, 1974. The crowd consisted of both the CGT (General Confederation of Labour) union members and the Montoneros. Friction was immediate; the Montoneros openly insulted Isabel Perón, the President's wife, expressing a preference for his late first wife, Eva Perón.
Despite Perón's explicit ban on partisan flags, the Montoneros smuggled their banners into the plaza by hiding them inside drums, initially appearing to carry only national flags to bypass police checkpoints. Once inside, they unveiled their partisan colors.
The Speech from the Casa Rosada
When Juan Perón appeared on the balcony of the Casa Rosada (the executive mansion), he was enraged. He addressed the crowd, praising the CGT unionists for their twenty-year struggle during the proscription of Peronism. He contrasted their loyalty with "those stupids that scream," referring to the Montoneros who were interrupting his speech with songs of rejection.
Perón further criticized the "callow" youth who claimed more merit than the veteran labor leaders. He explicitly linked the Montoneros to the murder of Rucci, noting that the crime had yet to face "thundering punishment." In a defiant response, the Montoneros sang songs celebrating Rucci's death, calling him a traitor.
The confrontation became so volatile that a significant portion of the crowd—estimated by contemporary newspapers to be between one-third and one-half of the attendees—began to leave the plaza while Perón was still speaking. This forced the President to shorten his address and end the event prematurely.
Aftermath and the Path to the Dirty War
The events of May 1 effectively severed all formal ties between the Montoneros and the Peronist government. The organization returned to a clandestine state and was officially outlawed a year later. To combat these militant groups, José López Rega, a close confidant of Isabel Perón, organized the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance.
Following Juan Perón's death from old age, Isabel Perón assumed the presidency. She signed Decree 261, which officially designated the Montoneros as a subversive organization and ordered their annihilation. This escalation continued under the National Reorganization Process, the military junta that deposed Isabel, leading to the Dirty War, during which the Montoneros were ultimately defeated.
| Feature | The CGT / Traditional Peronists | The Montoneros |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship with Perón | Strongly supported and praised | Expelled and condemned |
| Key Grievances | Long-term struggle during proscription | Desired direct access to Perón; rejected Isabel Perón |
| Action at Plaza de Mayo | Supported the President's speech | Used banned flags; insulted the First Lady |
| Ultimate Fate | Remained part of the political structure | Outlawed; targeted during the Dirty War |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Juan Perón expel the Montoneros?
Perón was enraged by several factors: the assassination of his close ally José Ignacio Rucci, the Montoneros' blatant disregard for his ban on partisan flags, and the public insults directed at his wife, Isabel Perón.
Who were the Montoneros?
The Montoneros were a left-wing guerrilla organization formed in the early 1970s. While they initially aligned themselves with Peronism to overthrow the military dictatorship, their militant methods and political goals eventually clashed with Juan Perón's leadership.
What was the significance of the Casa Rosada in this event?
The Casa Rosada is the official seat of the Argentine government. Its balcony served as the stage where Perón publicly denounced the Montoneros in front of thousands of people, making the rupture official and public.
What happened to the Montoneros after 1974?
After being expelled from Peronism, they became a clandestine organization. They were later declared a subversive organization by Decree 261 under Isabel Perón and were eventually defeated during the state-sponsored violence of the Dirty War.
What role did José Ignacio Rucci play?
Rucci was a powerful union leader and a key link between Juan Perón and the labor movement. His murder by the Montoneros was a turning point that convinced Perón that the militant group was a liability and a threat.