The history of Mexico has many curious episodes that make it unique in the world. One example is the ephemeral presidency of Pedro Lascurain, which is even said to have been the shortest in the world.
During the Mexican Revolution there were all kinds of betrayals and assassinations, with that of Francisco I. Madero being the one that would mark a before and after.
After his legitimate assumption as president of the Republic, Madero’s government was ephemeral due to the conspiracy that was hatched against him in 1913, which ended with his death and that of the then vice president, José María Pino Suárez.
This coup d’état committed by factions of the Mexican Army was known as the Tragic Ten Days. It was ten days of continuous fighting, which took place from February 9 to 18, 1913, in the streets of the country’s capital.
The coup was led by retired Porfirian generals such as Manuel Mondragón, Bernardo Reyes, Félix Díaz and a fraction of the Federal Army against Madero’s government. But they were not the only ones involved, as they had the collaboration of the interventionist American ambassador Henry Lane Wilson.
The greatest betrayal came from Victoriano Huerta, who was named Military Commander of the square by Madero himself, after the death of General Lauro Villar due to a battle wound. The man also known as “El Chacal” did not let the opportunity pass and took Madero and Vice President Pino Suárez prisoner.
Huerta forced Madero to resign from his post in order to usurp the Executive Power. When it seemed that the president’s destiny was exile, he was assassinated along with José María Pino Suárez on February 22, 1913.
It is worth mentioning that Gustavo A. Madero asked his brother not to trust Huerta, however, he ignored his brother’s advice and both were killed.
Pedro Lascuraín, the most ephemeral president in history
Pedro Lascuraín was a Mexican lawyer and politician who was involved in the military coup orchestrated against Francisco I. Madero.
It is worth mentioning that at that time, Lascuraín was part of the cabinet formed by Madero, and served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs. It was after the Tragic Ten Days that this character came onto the scene.
On February 19, 1913, the Chamber of Deputies began sessions, and without having the necessary quorum to do so, the resignations of President Madero and Vice President Pino Suárez were accepted under duress. At the time the coup d’état was being plotted with a façade of legality, they were imprisoned in Lecumberri.
In this way, based on article 82 of the Constitution, Pedro Lascuráin was appointed as interim president. Although he was in office for only 45 minutes, he appointed Victoriano Huerta as Minister of the Interior so that he could take possession of the office as dictated by law.
With the full recognition of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, the interim presidency of Victoriano Huerta, also known as “The Jackal”, began. Only 3 days later, he ordered the cold-blooded murder of Francisco I. Madero Pino Suárez. This event consecrated the “usurper” as one of the most criticized characters in the history of Mexico.
After the coup d’état and the murder of Madero and Pino Suárez, Lascuraín resigned from his position and retired from politics to practice law and become a professor. While Victoriano Huerta ended up exiled from the country and died in a Texas prison in 1916.
Source: oem
