João Goulart

João Belchior Marques Goulart (March 1, 1918—December 6, 1976) was the last left-wing president of Brazil (1961–March 31, 1964) until the October 6, 2002 election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Related Topics:
March 1 - 1918 - December 6 - 1976 - Left-wing - Brazil - 1961 - March 31 - 1964 - October 6 - 2002 - Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

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A former estancieiro (farmer with huge properties of land), Goulart (nicknamed "Jango") was elected to the Rio Grande do Sul state legislature in 1946 with the Brazilian Labor Party (Partido Trabalhista Brasileiro, PTB). He later served as minister of justice and the interior. In 1953 he was appointed by President Getúlio Vargas as minister of labour, industry, and commerce. Despite being rich, Goulart was very popular among low classes and made connections with labour unions. Vargas took advantage of that just when the left wing sectors were deviating from his government. As minister of labour, Goulart proposed an increase of 100% in minimum wages.

Related Topics:
Rio Grande do Sul - 1946 - Getúlio Vargas - Minimum wage

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In 1956, Jango was elected Vice President, as the running mate of President Juscelino Kubitschek. Goulart was again elected Vice President in 1960. This time, however, the president was Jânio Quadros, a member of a different party. (At the time, Brazilians could vote for a ticket that had candidates for president and vice president from different parties.)

Related Topics:
Vice President - Running mate - Juscelino Kubitschek - 1960 - Jânio Quadros

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Quadros resigned in 1961. According to some chroniclers, this was an attempt to promote a coup d'etat. After this alleged coup failed, Goulart assumed the presidency after a ten-day-long crisis.

Related Topics:
1961 - Coup d'etat

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