months later on February 19, 1940, Estigarribia dissolved the legislature and suspended the Constitution. Declaring that "our nation is on the edge of horrible anarchy," he announced that democracy would be restored as soon as a workable constitutional framework could be designed. It turned out to be an empty promise; within five months, he recast the constitution into a severely authoritarian document. The president was vested with sweeping powers to act for what he deemed to be the good of the state, while the legislature's powers were significantly curtailed. The constitution, approved in an August referendum, effectively transformed Estigarribia's presidency into a legal dictatorship. On September 7, 1940, Estigarribia and his wife, First Lady Julia Miranda Cueto, were on a tour of the Paraguayan interior. On a trip from Altos to his country residence in San Bernardinos, his plane crashed in Agapuey and all on board were killed. Estigarribia was succeeded by Higinio Morínigo and was posthumously promoted to the rank of marshal. His authoritarian constitution would remain in effect until 1967, when it was replaced with an equally authoritarian document that remained in effect until 1992. References External links Biography (Presidency of the Republic of Paraguay) Jose Felix Estigarribia 1888 births 1940 deaths People from Caraguatay, Paraguay Paraguayan people of Basque descent Liberal Party (Paraguay) politicians Presidents of Paraguay Ambassadors of Paraguay to the United States Paraguay–United States relations Paraguayan generals École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr alumni Paraguayan military personnel of the Chaco War World War II political leaders Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1940 Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Paraguay State leaders killed in aviation accidents or incidents