self-coup

[ self-koo ]

noun

1. a coup d'état performed by the current, legitimate government or a duly elected head of state to retain or extend control over government, through an additional term, an extension of term, an expansion of executive power, the dismantling of other government branches, or the declaration that an election won by an opponent is illegitimate.

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-coup¹

First recorded in 1995–2000; translation of Spanish autogolpe, equivalent to auto- ¹( def ) + golpe “coup”

Example Sentences

But in 2021, he initiated what experts describe as a “self-coup” when he dismissed parliament and assumed all executive power.

From BBC

The 1992 “self-coup,” as some observers called Fujimori’s dissolution of Congress, suspension of the constitution and purging of the judiciary, was roundly condemned by the U.S. government and Peru’s neighbors.

From Los Angeles Times

Finally, this all culminated in him trying this power play where he was going to launch a so-called self-coup, closing Congress, but Castillo didn’t have the support to do it.

From Slate

The measure has the backing of caretaker President Dina Boluarte, who took over from Castillo after the former rural school teacher tried to dissolve Congress on Dec. 7 — a move widely condemned by even his leftist supporters as a self-coup and act of political suicide.

From Seattle Times

The tumult was triggered by Castillo’s attempt to close Congress — a futile act of gamesmanship widely condemned by the U.S. and others as a self-coup but seen here, in Peru’s long-neglected countryside, as a pride-filled display of defiance against a hostile establishment that never allowed the former rural school teacher to govern since his shock victory 17 months ago.

From Seattle Times