selfcoups

Self-coup, also known as autogolpe, refers to a situation in which a head of state who already holds executive power uses official authority to consolidate power and neutralize checks and balances, while remaining in office. In a self-coup the president seeks to reshape or suspend constitutional order from within the current system, rather than by overthrowing it from outside or during a transition.

Typical mechanisms include dissolving or suspending the legislature, purging or subordinating the judiciary, reorganizing or neutralizing political rivals, leveraging emergency powers, and altering or rewriting the constitution or electoral rules. Elections may be postponed or altered to entrench the incumbent’s position. The actions are usually framed as preserving stability or legality, but they undermine democratic norms and the separation of powers.

Historical examples are often debated and vary in their details. The most cited case is Alberto Fujimori’s 1992 autogolpe in Peru, in which Congress was dissolved, the judiciary was restructured, and a new constitution was pursued to extend his control. Other episodes, such as certain executive-initiated constitutional crises, are discussed by scholars as autogolpes or autogolpe-like events; classifications can differ and depend on the interpretation of intent and legal justifications.

Impact and interpretation: self-coups concentrate power and can erode the rule of law, undermine institutions, and provoke domestic unrest or international condemnation. The long-term outcomes range from democratic erosion to renewed instability or, in some cases, reform, depending on subsequent political dynamics, opposition resilience, and external responses.