“Fascism in Uruguay did not begin just with the military coup of 1973, but years before, even when there was still a government with a constitution and parliament.”
- May 20, 1935 – May 13, 2025
- Uruguayan
- Politician, Former President of Uruguay, Former Guerrilla Fighter, Advocate for Simple Living
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Quote
“Fascism in Uruguay did not begin just with the military coup of 1973, but years before, even when there was still a government with a constitution and parliament.”
Explanation
In this quote, José Mujica challenges the simplistic notion that authoritarianism only begins with formal coups or the suspension of constitutions, asserting instead that the roots of fascism often grow quietly within seemingly democratic systems. By stating that fascism in Uruguay started “years before” the 1973 military coup, he draws attention to the erosion of democratic norms, civil liberties, and social justice that can precede outright dictatorship.
The reference to a time “when there was still a government with a constitution and parliament” highlights a sobering truth: institutions alone do not guarantee freedom. Mujica’s personal experience as a revolutionary and political prisoner during this period lends weight to his words. He witnessed how repressive policies, censorship, and state violence took root gradually, under the guise of legal governance, eventually culminating in full-scale authoritarian rule.
This insight remains relevant today in any society where democratic frameworks exist in name but are undermined in practice. Mujica’s quote warns that vigilance is needed not just against overt tyranny, but also against creeping authoritarian tendencies—those that disguise themselves behind constitutions, elections, or rhetoric of order. It is a call to defend democracy not only at its breaking point, but in its slow weakening.
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