117-558: Fernando Affonso Collor de Mello ( Brazilian Portuguese: [feʁˈnɐ̃dwaˈfõsu ˈkɔloʁ dʒi ˈmɛlu] ; born 12 August 1949) is a Brazilian politician who served as the 32nd president of Brazil from 1990 to 1992, when he resigned in a failed attempt to stop his impeachment trial by the Brazilian Senate . Collor was the first president democratically elected after the end of the Brazilian military dictatorship . He became
234-488: A cause of disappointment for some. A number of educational initiatives were launched during Lula's first presidency. A free school meals program was extended to 37 million pupils while a programme was launched which aimed to provide "whole or partial remission of student fees for low-income students". In 2006, primary education was extended from 8 to 9 years. A Fund for the Maintenance and Development of Basic Education
351-603: A decrease of around 75% in deforestation starting in 2004. In Lula's first year in office, in 2003-04, 25,000 square kilometers of Brazilian forest were destroyed, the second-worst devastation since 1977. In late 2006, the Instituto Soicioambiental environmental group said that deforestation in Lula's first four years had been worse than in any four-year period since 1988. By 2009, Brazil's Amazon destruction—though lower—was still about 7,000 square kilometers
468-406: A federal deputy ( Democratic Social Party ) in 1982, and eventually elected governor of the small Northeastern state of Alagoas ( Brazilian Democratic Movement Party ) in 1986. During his term as governor, he attracted publicity by allegedly fighting high salaries for public servants, whom he labeled marajás ( maharajas ) (likening them to the former princes of India who received a stipend from
585-588: A formal summons from the Brazilian Senate notifying him that the Senate had accepted the report, and that he was now a defendant in an impeachment trial. Per the Constitution of Brazil , upon receipt of that writ of summons, Collor's presidential powers were suspended for 180 days, and vice president Itamar Franco became acting president. The Senate also sent an official communication to the office of
702-538: A group of academics and union leaders, including Lula, founded the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) or Workers' Party, a left-wing party with progressive ideas. In 1983, he helped found the Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT) trade union association. Lula first ran for office in 1982 for the state government of São Paulo , but lost with 11% of the vote. Cuban president Fidel Castro urged him to continue on as
819-623: A journey of 13 days in a pau-de-arara (open truck bed ), they arrived in Guarujá and discovered that Aristides had formed a second family with Valdomira, with whom he had 10 more children. Aristides's two families lived in the same house for some time, but they did not get along very well, and four years later, his mother moved with him and his siblings to a small room behind a bar in São Paulo. After that, Lula rarely saw his father, who died illiterate and an alcoholic in 1978. In 1982, he added
936-647: A member of the Brazilian Communist Party , Lula joined the labour movement when he worked at Villares Metals, rising through the ranks. He was elected in 1975, and re-elected in 1978, as president of the Steel Workers' Union of São Bernardo do Campo and Diadema . Both cities are located in the ABCD Region , home to most of Brazil's automobile manufacturing facilities, including Ford , Volkswagen , Toyota , and Mercedes-Benz . In
1053-503: A new metalworking firm. There, in 1974, he lost his left pinky finger in a machinery accident, while working as a press operator in the factory. After the accident, he had to run to several hospitals before he received medical attention. This experience increased his interest in participating in the Workers' Union. Around that time, he became involved in union activities and held several union posts. Inspired by his brother Frei Chico,
1170-704: A partial Brazilian default would have a massive ripple effect through the world economy. Lula in the 2002 election , defeated PSDB candidate José Serra in a runoff, to become the country's first leftist president following the fall of the military dictatorship in Brazil . In the 2006 election , Lula won a run-off over the PSDB's Geraldo Alckmin . In September 2018, Brazil's top electoral court banned Lula from running for president in 2018 due to his corruption conviction, in accordance with Brazil's Lei da Ficha Limpa law. Instead, Fernando Haddad ran for president on
1287-575: A politician, during a trip by Lula to Cuba. In the 1986 election, Lula won a seat in the National Congress with the most votes nationwide. In 1989, Lula ran for president as the PT candidate. Lula advocated immediate land reform and that Brazil default on its external debt . A minor candidate, Fernando Collor de Mello , quickly amassed support with a more business-friendly agenda and by taking emphatic anti-corruption positions. He beat Lula in
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#17327902359501404-485: A president be a native-born citizen of Brazil, at least 35 years of age, a resident of Brazil, in full exercise of their electoral rights, a registered voter, and a member of a political party ( write-in or independent candidates are prohibited). The president of Brazil serves for a term of four years, and may be re-elected for a single consecutive term. This two-term limit, however, is not for life—a former president who has served for two consecutive terms may run for
1521-402: A presidential term, given that, according to the Constitution , the vice-president becomes acting president during the president's travels abroad. A sitting president (or governor or mayor) who wishes to run for a different office, regardless of the intended jurisdiction or branch of government, must resign from office at least six months before election day . The possibility of reelection
1638-580: A role in foreign policy, both on a regional level and as part of global trade and environment negotiations. During those terms, Lula was considered one of the most popular politicians in Brazil's history and left office with 80% approval rating. His first term was marked by notable scandals, including the Mensalão vote-buying scandal . After the 2010 Brazilian general election , he was succeeded by his former chief of staff, Dilma Rousseff , and remained active in politics and gave lectures. In July 2017, Lula
1755-503: A runoff. In 2006 , he was successfully re-elected in the second round. Described as left-wing, his first presidency coincided with South America's first pink tide . During his first two consecutive terms in office, he continued fiscal policies and promoted social welfare programs such as Bolsa Família that eventually led to growth in GDP, reduction in external debt and inflation, and helping 20 million Brazilians escape poverty. He also played
1872-471: A special committee on 3 September 1992 to study the impeachment petition. On 24 September 1992, the committee voted (32 votes in favour, one vote against, one abstention) to approve the impeachment petition and recommend that the full Chamber of Deputies accept the charges of impeachment. Under the Constitution of Brazil , the impeachment process required two thirds of the Chamber of Deputies to vote to allow
1989-409: A strong boom in commodities prices . This fueled an economic boom in Brazil, which in turn allowed Lula to spend heavily on social programs and pay off a $ 15 billion IMF loan a year early. In the run-up to the 2002 elections, the fear of Lula taking drastic measures, and comparisons of him with Hugo Chávez of Venezuela , increased internal market speculation. This led to a drop in the value of
2106-512: A succession of corruption accusations. During the Plano Collor, yearly inflation was at first reduced from 30,000 percent in 1990 (Collor's first year in government) to 400 percent in 1991, but then climbed back up to 1,020 percent in 1992 (when he left office). Inflation continued to rise to 2,294 percent in 1994 (two years after he left office). Although Zélia acknowledged later that the Plano Collor didn't end inflation, she also stated: "It
2223-415: A third from its original amount, and one year later, about $ 800 million was budgeted toward the program, but only $ 130 million of that was actually disbursed. Lula’s program was accused of having become more bark than bite, inasmuch as of May 2005, two years after the effort began, the program had fallen far short of expectations. During Lula's first term, child malnutrition decreased by 46%. In May 2010,
2340-588: A trial then takes place at the Supreme Federal Court . In the case of "crimes of malversation", which must fall into one of seven broad areas and which is defined in more detail in law, a trial takes place at the Federal Senate . During the trial, the vice president exercises executive power. If the trial does not result in a conviction within 180 days, the president resumes office; a conviction results in removal from office and succession by
2457-407: A warehouse. In 1961, he started working as an apprentice of a press operator in a metallurgical company that produced screws, while studying in a vocational course. There, Lula had his first contact with strike movements. After the movement failed in its negotiations, Lula left the company for another metallurgical company. From 1966 to 1980, he worked at Villares Metals S.A [ pt ] ,
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#17327902359502574-540: A website which has since been taken offline. In discussing the events surrounding the corruption charges, the former website stated: "After two and half years of the most intense investigation in Brazilian history, the Supreme Court of Brazil declared him innocent of all charges. Today he is the only politician in Brazil to have an officially clear record validated by an investigation by all interests and sectors of
2691-562: A year, larger than the US state of Delaware . Critics said, however, that Brazil's lowest rate of deforestation in 2009 was a function of the global financial crisis. Paulo Adario of Greenpeace said that it was a function not of efforts to protect the climate, but of the fact that the "demand for beef, soya and wood ha[d] dramatically fallen". In 2009, Lula gave a speech in which he said that "gringos" should pay Amazon nations to prevent deforestation. In February 2010, Lula's government approved
2808-624: Is a Brazilian politician who has been the 39th and current president of Brazil since 2023. A member of the Workers' Party , Lula was the 35th president from 2003 to 2011. He has also held the presidency of the G20 since 2023. Lula quit school after second grade to work, and did not learn to read until he was ten years old. As a teenager, he worked as a metalworker and became a trade unionist . Between 1978 and 1980, he led workers' strikes during Brazil's military dictatorship , and in 1980, he helped start
2925-511: Is a Portuguese adaptation of the German surname Köhler, from his maternal grandfather Lindolfo Leopoldo Boeckel Collor. Collor served as Senator for Alagoas from February 2007 to February 2023. He first won election in 2006 and was reelected in 2014 . In August 2017, Collor was accused by Brazil's Supreme Federal Court of receiving around US$ 9 million in bribes between 2010 and 2014 from Petrobras subsidiary BR Distributor. Fernando Collor
3042-640: Is a ranch located on the outskirts of the capital and is used as a country retreat by the president. The Palácio Rio Negro in Petrópolis , Rio de Janeiro, is a summer retreat of the president, although used rarely. The official residence of the vice president is the Jaburu Palace in Brasília . In the 2000s, the federal government decided to establish Regional Offices of the Presidency of
3159-474: Is also possible to see with clarity that, under very difficult conditions, we promoted the balancing of the national debt – and that, together with the commercial opening, it created the basis for the implementation of the Plano Real ." Parts of Collor's free trade and privatization program were followed by his successors: Itamar Franco (Collor's running mate ), Fernando Henrique Cardoso (a member of
3276-461: Is known as the thirteenth salary ), the president receives 13 payments per year, resulting in an annual salary of R$ 402,151.10. The Palácio do Planalto in Brasília is the official workplace of the president and the Palácio da Alvorada their official residence. The president is entitled to use its staff and facilities. The Residência Oficial do Torto , popularly known as Granja do Torto ,
3393-425: Is rampant. Its infrastructure is badly in need of repair and expansion. The business environment is restrictive, with a labor code ripped from the pages of Benito Mussolini 's economic playbook. Brazil also risks patting itself on the back so much that it fails to see the colossal work that remains to be done." Initially, Lula's administration pushed for progressive policies that significantly curbed deforestation in
3510-458: Is the 39th and current president. He was sworn in on 1 January 2023. As a republic with a presidential executive, Brazil grants significant powers to the president, who effectively controls the executive branch, represents the country abroad, and appoints the cabinet and, with the approval of the Senate , the judges for the Supreme Federal Court . The president is also the commander-in-chief of
3627-595: Is the ultimate pragmatist". He travelled to more than 80 countries during his presidency. A goal of Lula's foreign policy was for the country to gain a seat as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. In this he was unsuccessful. From 2003 to 2010, Lula embraced China as central to reforming what he considered an unjust global order. He intertwined the Chinese and Brazilian economies. Lula stated Brazil's commitment to
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3744-575: The Brazilian real , and a downgrade of Brazil's credit rating . Lula chose Henrique Meirelles of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PDSB), a market-oriented economist, as head of the Brazilian Central Bank . As a former CEO of BankBoston he was well known to the market. Lula and his cabinet followed, to an extent, the lead of the previous government in economics. It renewed all agreements with
3861-557: The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which were signed by the time Argentina defaulted on its own deals in 2001. His government achieved a satisfactory primary budget surplus in the first two years, as required by the IMF agreement, exceeding the target for the third year. In late 2005, the government paid off its debt to the IMF in full, two years ahead of schedule. The Brazilian economy was generally not affected by
3978-675: The Paulista Avenue ; the building also houses Banco do Brasil's regional headquarters in São Paulo. The presidency of the republic also maintains regional offices in Porto Alegre and in Belo Horizonte . For ground travel, the president uses the presidential state car , which is an armored version of the 2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Max Drive . A 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith is used by the president on ceremonial occasions, such as Independence Day commemorations, state visits and
4095-831: The Republican Party of the Social Order and rejoined the Brazilian Labour Party (current) . Also in 2022, Collor ran for Governor of Alagoas, placing 3rd and not making the run-off. Collor garnered 14,57% of the votes. In 2023, the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court voted to convict Collor on charges of money laundering and corruption. He was accused of receiving R$ 30 million in bribes from Petrobras . President of Brazil Recent elections The president of Brazil ( Portuguese : presidente do Brasil ), officially
4212-537: The Woods Hole Research Center said the growing demand for biofuels may ultimately result in more Amazon deforestation. In particular, environmentalists warn that while biofuels reduce emissions of greenhouse gases , they may well also trigger a significant expansion of the biofuel crops; that, in turn, may push agriculture deeper into forests, destroying habitat and biodiversity . The creation of conservation areas and indigenous reserves led to
4329-654: The armed forces . Presidents in Brazil have significant lawmaking powers, exercised either by proposing laws to the National Congress or by using Medidas Provisórias ( provisional measures ), an instrument with the force of law that the president can enact in cases of urgency and necessity except to make changes to some areas of law (provisional measures cannot be used to change criminal law or electoral law). A provisional measure comes into effect immediately, before Congress votes on it, and remains in force for up to 60 days unless Congress votes to rescind it. The 60-day period can be extended once, up to 120 days. If Congress, on
4446-535: The inauguration of the president-elect. The presidential aircraft is a military version of an Airbus A330-200 , called KC-30. Two modified Embraer 190 jets, air force designation VC-2, are used for short and medium range presidential travel. When the president is on board, the aircraft receive the call sign " Brazilian Air Force One ". Two modified military versions of the Eurocopter Super Puma , air force designation VH-34 , are currently used as
4563-560: The money supply by forcibly converting large portions of consumer bank accounts into non-cashable government bonds , while at the same time increasing the printing of money bills, a counterbalancing measure to combat hyper-inflation . Under Zélia's tenure as Brazil's Minister of Finances, the country had a period of major changes, featuring what ISTOÉ magazine called an "unprecedented revolution" in many levels of public administration: "privatization, opening its market to free trade, encouraging industrial modernization, temporary control of
4680-672: The president of the Federative Republic of Brazil ( Portuguese : presidente da República Federativa do Brasil ) or simply the President of the Republic , is the head of state and head of government of Brazil . The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces . The presidential system was established in 1889, upon
4797-540: The 2005 Mensalão scandal , which related to vote buying in the Brazilian Congress. In June 2005, economist and attorney José Dirceu , Lula's chief-of-staff since 2003, resigned after he was caught up in a massive corruption scheme in the legislature, the Mensalão corruption scandal. In March 2006, Lula's finance minister Antonio Palocci , who had continued the anti-inflation and pro-market policies of
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4914-452: The Amazon. Despite this, he did not support legislation that would have required the country to phase out its fossil fuels. In May 2008, environmental minister Marina Silva resigned, blamed “stagnation” in the government, after she lost disagreements with Lula when she opposed approval of new hydroelectric dams in the Amazon and criticized Lula's biofuels program. Dr. Daniel Nepstad of
5031-783: The Federal Prosecution Service opened an investigation. On 1 July 1992, a Joint Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry, composed of senators and members of the Chamber of Deputies, formed in Congress to investigate the accusation and review the evidence uncovered by police and federal prosecutors. Senator Amir Lando [ pt ] was chosen as the rapporteur of the Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Congressman Benito Gama [ pt ] . Farias, Pedro Collor, government officials and others were subpoenaed and gave depositions before it. Some weeks later, with
5148-476: The First Lady) in 1984. No children were born from this union. In 2006, he married Caroline Medeiros, with whom he would have two children. He also had a child born out of wedlock. Collor became president of Brazilian football club Centro Sportivo Alagoano (CSA) in 1976. After entering politics, he was successively named mayor of Alagoas ' capital Maceió in 1979 ( National Renewal Alliance Party ), elected
5265-461: The Franco cabinet) and Lula da Silva . Collor's administration privatized 15 different companies (including Acesita ), and began the process of privatizing several others, such as Embraer , Telebrás and Companhia Vale do Rio Doce . Some members of Collor's government were also part of the later Cardoso administration in different or similar functions: Luiz Carlos Bresser-Pereira , a minister in
5382-473: The Republic in certain key Brazilian cities. Those regional offices are not presidential residences, but they are fully staffed offices ready to receive the president and his ministers at any time, and they function as a presidential workplace when the president is in those cities. The first regional office of the presidency was established in the city of São Paulo, and is located at the Banco do Brasil building at
5499-711: The Republic of the United States of Brazil . On 15 March 1967, the country's official name was changed to Federative Republic of Brazil . On that same date, Arthur da Costa e Silva was sworn in as President succeeding Castello Branco. Since Costa e Silva, therefore, all presidents of Brazil have borne the full title of President of the Federative Republic of Brazil . Luiz In%C3%A1cio Lula da Silva [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ( Brazilian Portuguese: [luˈiz iˈnasju ˈlulɐ dɐ ˈsiwvɐ] ; born Luiz Inácio da Silva ; 27 October 1945), also known mononymously as Lula ,
5616-478: The Senate, and proceedings for impeachment began in the upper house. The Senate formed a committee to examine the case file and determine whether all legal formalities had been followed. The Committee issued its report, recognizing that the charges of impeachment had been presented in accordance with the Constitution and the laws, and proposed that the Senate organize itself into a court of impeachment to conduct
5733-406: The Senate, without success, as the Supreme Court ruled that the judicial trial of the ordinary criminal charges and the political trial of the charges of impeachment were independent spheres. Collor thus only regained his political rights in 2000, after the expiration of the eight-year disqualification imposed by the Brazilian Senate. For several years after his removal from office, Collor maintained
5850-407: The Supreme Court, in a ruling which also found serious biases in the first case against him, also annulling all other pending cases. Now legally allowed to make another run for president, he did so in the 2022 election and ultimately defeated the incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a runoff. Sworn in on 1 January 2023 at the age of 77, he is the oldest Brazilian president at time of inauguration, as well as
5967-591: The UN World Food Programme (WFP) awarded Lula the title of "World Champion in the Fight against Hunger". A number of other social projects were introduced during Lula's first presidency. Lula launched a housing aid program that was larger in scope to the policies developed until then. More than 15 billion euros were invested in water purification and the urbanization of favelas , and more than 40 billion in housing. The government proposed to relocate
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#17327902359506084-524: The Workers Party ticket, and was defeated by Jair Bolsonaro . Lula, described as left-wing, served two terms as president from 2003 through 2010. During his farewell speech, he said he felt a burden to prove that he could handle the presidency despite his humble beginnings. "If I failed, it would be the workers' class which would be failing; it would be this country's poor who would be proving they did not have what it takes to rule". Very few of
6201-421: The Workers' Party during Brazil's political opening . Lula was one of the leaders of the 1984 Diretas Já movement, which demanded direct elections. In 1986 , he was elected a federal deputy in the state of São Paulo . He ran for president in 1989 , but lost in the second round. He went on to also lose two other presidential elections, both in 1994 , and then in 1998 . He finally became president in 2002 , in
6318-818: The best in the world. These programs were promoted during Collor's administration. Until 1989, the Brazilian vaccination record, was considered the worst in South America . During Collor's administration, Brazil's vaccination program won a United Nations prize, as the best in South America. Collor's project Minha Gente ( My People ) won the UN award Project Model for the Humanity in 1993. In May 1992, Fernando Collor's brother Pedro Collor accused him of condoning an influence peddling scheme run by his campaign treasurer, Paulo César Farias . The Federal Police and
6435-476: The charge were kept under wraps so as not to jeopardize the investigation. In 2016, Collor abandoned PTB and joined the Christian Labour Party (PTC), a small Christian democratic party which had no representatives in the Congress at the time. Collor also voted to impeach Rousseff as Senator. In 2019, Collor left PTC and joined the Republican Party of the Social Order . In 2022, Collor left
6552-400: The charges of impeachment to be escalated to the Senate. On 29 September 1992, Collor was impeached by the Chamber of Deputies, with more than two thirds of its members concurring. In the decisive roll call vote, 441 deputies voted for and 38 deputies voted against the admission of the charges of impeachment. On 30 September 1992, the accusation was formally sent from the Chamber of Deputies to
6669-560: The cities of Maceió, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília . Collor graduated in economic sciences, in 1972, at the Federal University of Alagoas . That same year, he become president of the Gazeta de Alagoas , a newspaper that was run by his family's media conglomerate. In 1975, he married his first wife Celi Elisabete Júlia Monteiro de Carvalho, with whom he had two children. He married a second time, with Rosane Malta (who would become
6786-479: The classification of Brazilian debt from speculative to investment grade. Banks made record profits under Lula's government. The crash of Wall Street in 2008 might have been a tsunami in the US and Europe, Lula declared, but in Brazil it would be no more than a little 'ripple' (" uma marolinha "). The phrase was seized on by the Brazilian press as proof of Lula's reckless economic ignorance and irresponsibility. In 2008, Brazil enjoyed economic good health to fight
6903-439: The combination of the political crisis and the hyperinflation continued to reduce Collor's credibility and in that political vacuum an impeachment process took place, precipitated by Pedro Collor's (Fernando Collor's brother) accusations and other social and political sectors which thought they would be harmed by his policies. In 1991, UNICEF chose three health programs: community agents, lay midwives and eradication of measles as
7020-631: The construction of a controversial hydroelectric mega Belo Monte Dam in the middle of the Amazon rain forest in the Brazilian state of Pará . It was to be the third-largest hydroelectric dam in the world. Environmental activists protested the building of the dam. It was expected to cause a significant decline in the water table , resulting in significant losses of aquatic and terrestrial fauna , and adversely impact aquatic mammals . Approximately 20,000-40,000 indigenous people were to be resettled with little or no compensation, and 516 square kilometers (199 square miles) of rain forest were to be flooded for
7137-525: The country was officially styled Republic of the United States of Brazil , and from 1937 to 1967 the country was styled simply The United States of Brazil , and thus the full title of the presidents of the Republic from 1891 until 1967—that is, from Deodoro da Fonseca 's inauguration as President (between 1889 and 1891 he served as Head of the Provisional Government) until the end of Humberto Castello Branco 's term in 1967—was President of
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#17327902359507254-472: The dam's construction. In 1979, Lula was asked in an interview which historical figures he admired most. He answered: Gandhi , Che Guevara , and Mao Zedong . Upon being asked to give additional examples, he added Fidel Castro saying: "I admire in a man the fire to want to do something, and then his going out to try to do it." Leading a large agricultural state, Lula generally opposed and criticized farm subsidies, and this position has been seen as one of
7371-414: The determination of the former president's guilt or innocence was still relevant because a conviction on charges of impeachment would carry with it a disqualification from holding public office for eight years. The Senate found that, since the trial had already begun, the defendant could not use his right to resign the presidency as a means to avoid a ruling. Later, in the early hours of 30 December 1992, by
7488-500: The final congressional inquiry was approved 16–5. The report concluded that there was proof that Fernando Collor had had personal expenses paid for by money raised by Paulo César Farias through his influence peddling scheme. As a result, a petition to the Chamber of Deputies by citizens Barbosa Lima Sobrinho and Marcelo Lavenère Machado, respectively the then president of the Brazilian Press Association and
7605-604: The first-ever candidate to have defeated an incumbent president and to be elected to a third term. Luiz Inácio da Silva was born on 27 October 1945 (registered with a date of birth of 6 October 1945) in Caetés (then a district of Garanhuns ), 250 km (160 mi) from Recife , capital of Pernambuco , a state in the Northeast of Brazil . He was the seventh of eight children of Aristides Inácio da Silva and Eurídice Ferreira de Melo, farmers who had experienced famine in one of
7722-442: The floor of the Senate, and the impeachment trial was adjourned so that the Congress could meet in joint session, first to take formal notice of the resignation and proclaim the office of president vacant, and then to swear in Franco. However, after the inauguration of Franco, the Senate resumed sitting as a court of impeachment with the president of the Supreme Court presiding. Collor's attorneys argued that with Collor's resignation,
7839-399: The global financial crisis with a large economic stimulus lasting, at least, until 2014. According to The Washington Post : "Under Lula, Brazil became the world's eighth-largest economy, [and] more than 20 million people rose out of acute poverty ..." At the same time, in 2010 The Wall Street Journal noted that: "[Brazil’s] public sector is bloated and riddled with corruption. Crime
7956-514: The government as compensation for relinquishing their lands). How well his policies reduced public expense is disputed, but the political position certainly made him popular in the country. This helped boost his political career, with the help of television appearances in nationwide broadcasts (quite unusual for a governor from such a small state). Despite achieving national prestige during his time as governor of Alagoas, while positioning himself as an anti-corruption and anti-establishment candidate for
8073-455: The hyper-inflation and public debt reduction." In the month before Collor took power, hyperinflation was at 90 percent per month and climbing. All accounts over 50,000 cruzeiros (about US$ 500 at that time), were frozen for several weeks. He also proposed freezes in wages and prices, as well as major cuts in government spending. The measures were received unenthusiastically by the people, though many felt that radical measures were necessary to kill
8190-554: The hyperinflation. Within a few months, however, inflation resumed, eventually reaching rates of 10 percent a month. During the course of his government, Collor was accused of condoning an influence peddling scheme. The accusations weighed on the government and led Collor and his team to an institutional crisis leading to a loss of credibility that reached the finance minister, Zélia. This political crisis had negative consequences on his ability to carry out his policies and reforms. The Plano Collor I , under Zélia would be renewed with
8307-442: The impeachment trial could not proceed and should close without ruling on the merits. The attorneys arguing for Collor's removal, however, argued that the trial should continue, to determine whether or not the defendant should face the constitutional penalty of suspension of political rights for eight years. The Senate voted to continue the trial. It ruled that, although the possible penalty of removal from office had been rendered moot,
8424-502: The implementation of the Plano Collor II ; the government's loss of prestige would make that follow-up plan short-lived and largely ineffective. The failure of Zélia and Plano Collor I led to their substitution by Marcílio Marques Moreira and his Plano Collor II. Moreira's plan tried to correct some aspects of the first plan, but it was too late. Collor's administration was paralyzed by the fast deterioration of his image, through
8541-630: The information first extracted from files stored in Farias' computer were also voided, as the Collor defense successfully invoked the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine before the Brazilian Supreme Court. Evidence that was only obtained because of the illegally obtained information was also struck from the record. After his acquittal in the criminal trial, Collor again attempted to void the suspension of his political rights imposed by
8658-580: The investigation progressing and under fire, Collor asked on national television for the people's support in going out in the street and protesting against "coup" forces. On 11 August 1992, thousands of students organized by the National Student Union ( União Nacional dos Estudantes – UNE), protested on the street against Collor. Their faces, often painted in a mixture of the colors of the flag and protest-black, lead to them being called " Caras-pintadas " (" Painted Faces "). On 26 August 1992,
8775-404: The late 1970s, when Brazil was under military rule, Lula helped organize union activities, including major strikes . Labour courts found the strikes illegal, and in 1980, Lula was jailed for a month. Due to this, and like other people imprisoned for political activities under the military government, Lula was awarded a lifetime pension after the fall of the military regime. On 10 February 1980,
8892-544: The lead of a project that had already been put into practice in 1995 by the Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration, which was named Bolsa Escola (School Stipend). It expanded that initiative with the new Fome Zero ("Zero Hunger") program, which was part of the Bolsa Família (Family Allowance) plan. Five months after Lula took office, however, the budget for Fome Zero was cut down
9009-457: The main presidential helicopters. The president may be removed from office using one of two procedures. In either case, two-thirds of the Chamber of Deputies must accept charges against the officeholder ( impeachment ); and if the Senate accepts the investigation, the president is suspended from exercising the functions of office for up to 180 days. In the case of "common criminal offenses",
9126-451: The nickname Lula to his legal name. Twice a widower , Lula has been married three times, and has a daughter from a fourth relationship. In 1969, he married Maria de Lourdes Ribeiro. She died of hepatitis in 1971 while pregnant with a child, who also died. In March 1974, Lula had an illegitimate daughter, Lurian, with his then-girlfriend, Miriam Cordeiro. The two never married. Lula only began participating in his daughter's life when she
9243-575: The opposition government. Furthermore, President Fernando Collor signed the initial document authorizing the investigation." In 2000, Collor joined the Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB) and ran for mayor of São Paulo . His candidacy was declared invalid by the electoral authorities, as his political rights were still suspended by the filing deadline. In 2002, with political rights restored, he ran for Governor of Alagoas , but lost to incumbent Governor Ronaldo Lessa , who
9360-488: The ordinary criminal accusation was presented by the Brazilian federal prosecution service ( Ministério Público Federal ). The Supreme Court had original jurisdiction under the Brazilian Constitution because Collor was one of the defendants and the charges mentioned crimes committed by a president while in office. If found guilty of the charges, the former president would face a jail sentence. However, Collor
9477-492: The other hand, votes to approve the provisional measure, it becomes an actual law, with changes decided by the legislative branch. The provisional measure expires at the end of the 60-day period (or the 120-day, in the case of extension), or sooner, if rejected by one of the Houses of Congress. Article 84 of the current Federal Constitution, determines that the president has the power to The Constitution of Brazil requires that
9594-567: The party (PT) was involved in the kidnapping. Collor won in the state of São Paulo against many prominent political figures. The first president of Brazil elected by popular vote in 29 years, Collor spent the early years of his presidency battling inflation , which at times reached rates of 25% a month. The very day he took office, Collor launched the Plano Collor ( Collor Plan ), implemented by his finance minister Zélia Cardoso de Mello (not related to Collor). The plan attempted to reduce
9711-526: The poor populations that occupied the "risk zones", prone to floods or landslides; at the end of the day, however, at least 212 people died and at least 15,000 people were made homeless by the April 2010 Rio de Janeiro floods and mudslides alone. It proposed to then extend the electricity network, to relocate the streets and to improve the precarious housing. The government undertook to democratize access to real estate credit. Lula's first two terms coincided with
9828-486: The poorest parts of the agreste . He was raised Catholic . Lula's mother was of Portuguese and partial Italian descent. Two weeks after Lula's birth, his father moved to Santos, São Paulo , with – though Eurídice was not aware of it – her younger cousin Valdomira Ferreira de Góis. In December 1952, when Lula was seven years old, his mother moved the family to São Paulo to rejoin her husband. After
9945-433: The presidency again after at least one term has elapsed. A vice president or other officer who succeeds to the presidency or who serves, albeit briefly, as acting president during a certain presidential term may subsequently be elected or reelected to the presidency only once, as the consecutive term limit already applies. In practice, Brazilian vice-presidents almost always serve as acting president at some point during
10062-519: The presidency, corruption scandals followed him since the time he was mayor of Maceió. Before that, during the time he was a Federal Deputy in the National Congress, he was perceived as a very quiet politician, only proposing pieces of legislation that would benefit his family's businesses. In 1989 Collor defeated Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a controversial two-round presidential race with 35 million votes. In December 1989, days prior to
10179-563: The previous Sarney and the following Fernando Henrique Cardoso administrations, stated that "Collor changed the political agenda in the country, because he implemented brave and very necessary reforms, and he pursued fiscal adjustments . Although other attempts had been made since 1987, it was during Collor's administration that old statist ideas were confronted and combated (...) by a brave agenda of economic reforms geared towards free trade and privatization ." According to Philippe Faucher, professor of political science at McGill University ,
10296-490: The previous centrist government, resigned due to his involvement in a corruption and abuse of power scandal. Lula then appointed Guido Mantega , a PT economist, as finance minister. Not long after the start of his second term, in 2007 Lula's government announced the Growth Acceleration Program ( Programa de Aceleração de Crescimento , PAC), an investment program which sought to solve many of
10413-487: The problems that prevented the Brazilian economy from expanding more rapidly. The measures included investment in the creation and repair of roads and railways, simplification and reduction of taxation, and modernization of the country's energy production to avoid further shortages. The money pledged to be spent on this program was to be around R$ 500 billion (US $ 260 billion) over four years. However, by 2010 many projects remained mired in bureaucracy, and only 11% of
10530-419: The proclamation of the republic in a military coup d'état against Emperor Pedro II . Since then, Brazil has had six constitutions , three dictatorships, and three democratic periods. The Constitution of Brazil , along with several constitutional amendments , establishes the requirements, powers, and responsibilities of the president, their term of office and the method of election. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
10647-540: The projects outlined in the plan had been completed, while just over half had not even been launched. Prior to taking office, Lula had been a critic of privatization . His administration created public-private partnership concessions for seven federal roadways. After decades with the largest foreign debt among emerging economies , Brazil became a net creditor for the first time in January 2008. By mid-2008, both Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's had elevated
10764-483: The race, finishing a narrow third after Lessa and incumbent Teotonio Vilela Filho , thus eliminated from the runoff. This was Collor's second electoral loss. In 2014, Collor was re-elected to the Senate with 55% of the vote. On 20 August 2015, Collor was charged by the Prosecutor General of Brazil with corruption, as a development of Operation Car Wash ( Portuguese : Operação Lava Jato ). Details of
10881-591: The reasons for the walkout of developing nations and subsequent collapse of the Cancún World Trade Organization talks in 2003 over G8 agricultural subsidies. Brazil played a role in negotiations regarding internal conflicts in Venezuela and Colombia , and made efforts to strengthen Mercosur . During the Lula administration, Brazilian foreign trade increased dramatically, changing from deficits to several surpluses after 2003. In 2004,
10998-537: The reforms that Lula proposed were actually implemented during Lula's terms of office. Some wings of the Worker's Party disagreed with the increasing moderation in focus since the late eighties, and left the party to form other parties, such as during Lula's presidency, the Socialism and Liberty Party . Alliances with old, traditional oligarch politicians, like former presidents José Sarney and Fernando Collor, have been
11115-440: The required two-thirds majority, the Senate found the former president guilty of the charges of impeachment. Of the 81 members of the Senate, 79 took part in the final vote: 76 senators voted to convict the former president, and 3 voted to acquit. The penalty of removal from office was not imposed as Collor had already resigned, but as a result of his conviction the Senate barred Collor from holding public office for eight years. After
11232-414: The second round of the 1989 elections . Lula decided not to run for re-election as a Congressman in 1990. Lula ran again for president, and lost again, in the next two Brazilian elections. Former PSDB Minister of Finance Fernando Henrique Cardoso defeated Lula who received only 27% of the vote in the presidential elections in 1994 , and again, by a somewhat smaller margin, as Lula garnered only 32% of
11349-406: The second round, businessman Abílio Diniz was the victim of a sensational political kidnapping. The act was asserted by some to be an attempt to sabotage Lula's chances of victory by associating the kidnapping with the left wing. At the time, Brazilian law barred any party from addressing the media on the days prior to election day. Lula's party thus had no opportunity to clarify the accusations that
11466-595: The surplus was US$ 29 billion, due to a substantial increase in global demand for commodities. Brazil also provided UN peacekeeping troops and led a peacekeeping mission in Haiti . According to The Economist of 2 March 2006, Lula had a pragmatic foreign policy, seeing himself as a negotiator, not an ideologue, a leader adept at reconciling opposites. As a result, he befriended both Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and U.S. President George W. Bush . Former Finance Minister , and current advisor, Delfim Netto, said: "Lula
11583-632: The then-president of the Brazilian Bar Association formally accused Collor of crimes of responsibility (the Brazilian equivalent of "high crimes and misdemeanors", such as abuse of power) warranting removal from office per the constitutional and legal norms for impeachment . In Brazil, a formal petition for impeachment of the president must be submitted by one or more private citizens, not by corporations or public institutions. The formal petition, submitted on 1 September 1992, began impeachment proceedings. The Chamber of Deputies set up
11700-472: The trial of the president. On 1 October 1992, this report was presented on the floor of the Senate, and the full Senate voted to accept it and to proceed. That day the then-president of the Federal Supreme Court, Justice Sydney Sanches [ pt ] , was notified of the opening of the trial process in the Senate, and began to preside over the process. On 2 October 1992, Collor received
11817-468: The vice president. The seven areas are: The following privileges are guaranteed to former presidents by law: All presidents of Brazil have borne the title President of the Republic . That title has been used by all the constitutions of Brazil since the proclamation of the Republic to refer to the head of the Executive Branch. However, from the proclamation of the Republic in 1889 until 1937
11934-409: The vice-president to formally acquaint him of the suspension of the president, and to give him notice that he was now the acting president. By the end of December, it was obvious that Collor would be convicted and removed from office by the Senate. In hopes of staving this off, Collor resigned on 29 December 1992 on the last day of the proceedings. Collor's resignation letter was read by his attorney in
12051-528: The vote in 1998 . An article in The Washington Post said that before 2002, Lula had been a "strident union organizer known for his bushy beard and Che Guevara T-shirts". In the 2002 campaign, Lula abandoned both his informal clothing style and his platform plank that Brazil should not pay its foreign debt unless it links the payment to a prior thorough audit. This last point had worried economists, businessmen, and banks, who feared that even
12168-409: The vote, the Senate issued a formal written opinion summarizing the conclusions and orders resulting from the judgement, as required by Brazilian law . The Senate's formal written sentence on the impeachment trial, containing its conviction of the former president and disqualification from public office for eight years, signed by the president of the Supreme Court and by the senators on 30 December 1992,
12285-448: The youngest president in Brazilian history, taking office at the age of 40. After he resigned from the presidency, the impeachment trial on charges of corruption continued. Collor was found guilty by the Senate and disqualified from holding elected office for eight years (1992–2000). He was later acquitted of ordinary criminal charges in his judicial trial before Brazil's Supreme Federal Court , for lack of valid evidence. Fernando Collor
12402-524: Was already a young adult. Two months later, in May 1974, Lula married Marisa Letícia Rocco Casa , a 24-year-old widow whom he had met the prior year. He had three sons with her, and adopted her son from her first marriage. The two remained married for 43 years, until her death on 2 February 2017, after a stroke. Later that same year, he met and started a relationship with Rosângela da Silva , known as Janja. The relationship only became public in 2019 while he
12519-466: Was born into a political family. He is the son of the former Senator Arnon Affonso de Farias Mello and Leda Collor (daughter of former Labour Minister Lindolfo Collor , led by his father, former governor of Alagoas and proprietor of the Arnon de Mello Organization, a media conglomerate which manages the state-wide television station TV Gazeta de Alagoas, the affiliate of TV Globo in the state.) "Collor"
12636-573: Was born on August 12, 1949, to Leda Collor (1916–1995) and Arnon Afonso de Farias Mello (1911–1983), in a very affluent and politically well-connected family. His father was governor and later senator for the state of Alagoas . He has two brothers, Pedro and Leopoldo, and two sisters, Ledinha and Ana. His grandfather, Lindolfo Collor (1890–1942), was a direct descendent of some of the first German immigrants that arrived in Brazil in 1824. Despite being born in Rio de Janeiro , Fernando spent his childhood in
12753-538: Was convicted on charges of money laundering and corruption in the Operation Car Wash context, after which he spent a total of 580 days in prison. He attempted to run in the 2018 Brazilian presidential election , but was disqualified under Brazil's Ficha Limpa law. He was convicted again in February 2019, and was released from prison the following November. His two convictions were nullified in 2021 by
12870-471: Was established by the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, in 1997. Before that, presidents had been barred from immediate reelection for all of Brazil's republican history, with the single exception of the latter half of the Vargas Era , from 1937 to 1945. The office was limited to men until the 1937 Constitution . Under the original text of the 1988 Constitution the presidential term lasted 5 years, but it
12987-433: Was found not guilty. The Federal Supreme Court threw out the corruption charges against him on a technicality , citing a lack of evidence linking Collor to Farias' influence-peddling scheme. A key piece of evidence, Paulo César Farias' personal computer, was ruled inadmissible as it had been obtained during an illegal police search conducted without a search warrant . Other pieces of evidence that were only gathered because of
13104-461: Was only loosely enforced; 90% of children in rural areas attended school for less than four years, and only 25% of children living in favelas attended school. Lula's top social program sought to eradicate hunger. It was financed by an increase in tax revenues, coupled with a decrease in government expenditures on both wages and on benefits paid to public employees, as well as a decrease in government expenditures on infrastructure. The program followed
13221-640: Was published in the Diário Oficial da União (the Brazilian Federal Government's official journal ) on 31 December 1992. In 1993, Collor challenged before the Brazilian Supreme Court the Senate's decision to continue the trial after his resignation but the Supreme Court ruled the Senate's action valid. In 1994, the Supreme Court tried the ordinary criminal charges stemming from the Farias corruption affair;
13338-417: Was reduced to 4 years in 1994 by a constitutional amendment. As of 2015, the president receives a monthly salary of R$ 30,934.70, along with an undisclosed expense account to cover travel, goods and services while in office. Given that in Brazil all private and public sector employees and civil servants receive an additional compensation equivalent to one monthly salary after a year of work (this compensation
13455-497: Was seeking reelection. In 2006, Collor was elected to the Federal Senate representing his state of Alagoas , with 44.03% of the vote, running again against Lessa. The following year he abandoned PRTB and switched to the Brazilian Labour Party (PTB). Collor has been, since March 2009, Chairman of the Senate Infrastructure Commission. Collor ran again for Governor of Alagoas in 2010. However, he lost
13572-484: Was serving time in jail in Curitiba , Paraná, on corruption charges. Lula and Janja married on 18 May 2022. Lula is Catholic . Lula had little formal education. He did not learn to read until he was ten years old. He quit school after the second grade to work. His first job at age eight was as a street vendor. When he was 12, he also worked as a shoeshiner. In 1960, when he was 14, he got his first formal job, in
13689-425: Was set up to improve the quality of education. The PED (an education development plan) conditioned the disbursement of public funds to state schools on the schools' performance. Still in 2006, many Brazilians and commentators felt that Lula had not done enough to improve the quality of public education. And in 2010, while education was compulsory for all children in Brazil aged 7 to 14, in practice that requirement
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