However international events began to take their toll, in the early 1970's inflation which had been relatively low during the boom year began to rapidly increase. The Socialist-Workers Government was unable to control sky rocketing prices and high unemployment, in that year's legislative elections the formerly fringe party the "National Metaxist Party" won a sweeping majority, regardless of this fact President Stelios Ioannou still refused to appoint Konstantinos Anthes as his Prime Minister, this and a deepening economic crisis emboldened the Military along with Anthes to stage a coup d'etat on January 25, 1974 with universal support from the populace, and has remained in power by decree ever since.