 As Minister of War he played a crucial role in organizing the Latvian coup d'état on 15 May 1934, and together with Prime Minister Kārlis Ulmanis was one of two signatories of the proclamation by which martial law was declared and the Saeima dissolved.During the following years Balodis could always be found next to Ulmanis, creating a perception of duumvirate, while in reality his role was limited to the military matters.On 12 March 1936 he became Vice President, and on 11 February 1938 Deputy Prime Minister.