Editing Klement Gottwald (section)

== Сoup d'état ==
{{see also|Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948}}
By the summer of 1947, however, the KSČ's popularity had significantly dwindled, particularly after the Soviets pressured Czechoslovakia to turn down [[Marshall Plan]] aid after initially accepting it. Most observers believed Gottwald would be turned out of office at the elections due in May 1948. The Communists' dwindling popularity, combined with France and Italy dropping the Communists from their coalition governments, prompted [[Joseph Stalin]] to order Gottwald to begin efforts to eliminate parliamentary opposition to  Communism in Czechoslovakia.

Outwardly, though, Gottwald kept up the appearance of working within the system, announcing that he intended to lead the Communists to an absolute majority in the upcoming election—something no Czechoslovak party had ever done. The endgame began in February 1948, when a majority of the Cabinet directed the Communist interior minister, [[Václav Nosek]], to stop packing the police force with Communists. Nosek ignored this directive, with Gottwald's support. In response, 12 non-Communist ministers resigned. They believed that without their support, Gottwald would be unable to govern and be forced to either give way or resign. Beneš initially supported their position, and refused to accept their resignations. At that point, Gottwald dropped all pretense of liberal democracy. He not only refused to resign, but demanded the appointment of a Communist-dominated government under threat of a general strike. His Communist colleagues occupied the offices of the non-Communist ministers.<ref name=EB>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/149152/Czechoslovak-history/42114/Communist-Czechoslovakia|title=Czechoslovak history|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |date=11 April 2023 }}</ref>

On 25 February, Beneš, fearing Soviet intervention, gave in. He accepted the resignations of the non-Communist ministers and appointed a new government in accordance with Gottwald's specifications. Although ostensibly still a coalition, it was dominated by Communists and pro-Moscow Social Democrats. The other parties were still nominally represented, but with the exception of Foreign Minister [[Jan Masaryk]] they were [[fellow traveller]]s handpicked by the Communists. From this date forward, Gottwald was effectively the most powerful man in Czechoslovakia.

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R90009, Budapest, II. Weltfestspiele, Festumzug, tschechische Delegation (cropped).jpg|thumb|Celebration of the [[2nd World Festival of Youth and Students]] in August 1949, Budapest, Hungary. The photograph shows the Czechoslovak delegation; left is a portrait of Gottwald, on the right, [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]].]]
On 9 May, the National Assembly, now a docile tool of the Communists, approved the so-called [[Ninth-of-May Constitution]].  While it was not a completely Communist document, its Communist imprint was strong enough that Beneš refused to sign it. Later that month, [[1948 Czechoslovak parliamentary election|elections]] were held in which voters were presented with a single list from the National Front, now a Communist-controlled patriotic organization. Beneš resigned on 2 June. In accordance with the 1920 Constitution, Gottwald took over most presidential functions until 14 June, when he was formally elected as President.