Maximato

The Maximato was a transitional period in the political history of Mexico, lasting from 1928 to 1934. It followed the assassination of President-elect Álvaro Obregón and was characterized by the indirect but powerful influence of Plutarco Elías Calles, the former president (1924-1928), on the national government. The term itself derives from "Máximo Líder de la Revolución" (Maximum Leader of the Revolution), a title Calles acquired, reflecting his perceived role as the foremost figure in the post-revolutionary Mexican landscape.

During the Maximato, three presidents held office: Emilio Portes Gil (1928-1930), Pascual Ortiz Rubio (1930-1932), and Abelardo L. Rodríguez (1932-1934). While ostensibly in charge, these presidents were largely seen as puppets of Calles, who continued to wield considerable power behind the scenes through his political connections, control of the military, and manipulation of the political system. Calles effectively controlled the major decisions and policies of the Mexican government during this time.

The Maximato was a period of significant political instability. Public discontent grew as Calles's control became increasingly evident. There were accusations of corruption, political interference, and the suppression of dissent. The period ended with the rise of Lázaro Cárdenas, who was elected president in 1934. Cárdenas, initially seen as another pliable figure, eventually challenged Calles's authority, exiled him from the country in 1936, and consolidated his own power, thereby marking the definitive end of the Maximato and the beginning of a new era in Mexican politics. The Maximato is viewed as a critical period in understanding the institutionalization of the Mexican Revolution and the eventual rise of the dominant Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).