By 1932 he had turned to open opposition to Vargas and joined the campaign to return the country to constitutional rule, taking part in the movement that was to lead to the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932. He was initially named provisionally as leader of the movement, but eventually General became head of the Constitutionalist army. Following this conflict he went into exile again, this time to Portugal, but returned to Brasil in 1934 following a general amnesty. His involvement was sought by the leaders of what was to become the Communist uprising of 1935, but he declined to become involved. He was critical of the coup d'état of 1937 led by Vargas and Góis Monteiro, which established the dictatorship of the Estado Novo.