Relations with Buenos Aires declined because of the junta's support for Banda Oriental federalist leader José Artigas. Littoral provinces overtaxed Paraguayan commerce. The Portuguese military attempted to invade Paraguayan territory. The junta urged Francia to return and agreed to create a regiment under his exclusive command. Francia removed civilians accused of being Porteñistas (pro-union with Buenos Aires) from power. He wanted a Paraguay independent from Buenos Aires, which he saw as incapable of suppressing endemic political disorder.
Francia emerged as the most powerful figure in government. He promoted his followers in the army and removed Spaniards from government positions. Francia's supporters summoned an assembly to change the system of government to one-man rule and voted to make Francia supremo dictador de la República.
