In 1940 a constitutional convention met representing all political forces in Cuban society. After the convention, a new Cuban constitution was established. Soon after Batista was elected as the constitutional president. Batista described himself as a "progressive socialist" using the communist party to take control of the labor unions. Batista bought political support by using proceeds from the national lottery and state funds to pay-off influential leaders, subsidize failing companies and contain unemployment. Having amassed a fortune in real estate, Batista stood down in 1944, as required by the constitution. .
The 1944 Presidential elections brought Grau San Martin to power. Although the people hoped Grau's leadership would bring honest government, a new period of corruption exceeding that of Batista's presidency developed. .
In 1948 Grau's successor Carlos Prio Socarras was elected President. During his presidency, political gangsters swept through Cuba. According to the constitution of 1940, the University of Havana was designated an area in which civil and military police were not allowed. As a result, political gangsters were able to murder without fear of arrest and use the University as refuge from the authorities. The situation worsened to the point that Fulgencio Batista, who was running third in presidential elections, was able to justify a military coup on 10 March 1952. .
As president, Batista catered to sugar barons, banks, gambling syndicates and corporate interests of North America. He dealt with his opposition by using strong-arm tactics ordering assassinations and breaking up strikes with machine-gun fire. These tactics worked to repress the Cuban people, and to maintain the massive exploitation of sugar workers, farmers and women. Under Batista's rule, the people were becoming poorer while foreign interests earned great profits.
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The Principle Antagonist: .