Brazil has a rich political history, and its presidency has been shaped by various leaders since the country’s independence. Let’s take a look at the individuals who have held this esteemed office over the years.
Table of Brazilian Presidents
Here’s a comprehensive list of Brazilian presidents in chronological order:
| No. | President | Term Start | Term End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marechal Deodoro da Fonseca | 1889 | 1891 |
| 2 | Floriano Peixoto | 1891 | 1894 |
| 3 | Prudente de Morais | 1894 | 1898 |
| 4 | Campos Sales | 1898 | 1902 |
| 5 | Rodrigues Alves | 1902 | 1906 |
| 6 | Afonso Pena | 1906 | 1909 |
| 7 | Nilo Peçanha | 1909 | 1910 |
| 8 | Hermes da Fonseca | 1910 | 1914 |
| 9 | Venceslau Brás | 1914 | 1918 |
| 10 | Epitácio Pessoa | 1919 | 1922 |
| 11 | Artur Bernardes | 1922 | 1926 |
| 12 | Washington Luís | 1926 | 1930 |
| 13 | Getúlio Vargas | 1930 | 1945 |
| 14 | José Linhares | 1945 | 1946 |
| 15 | Eurico Gaspar Dutra | 1946 | 1951 |
| 16 | Getúlio Vargas | 1951 | 1954 |
| 17 | Café Filho | 1954 | 1955 |
| 18 | Juscelino Kubitschek | 1956 | 1961 |
| 19 | Jânio Quadros | 1961 | 1961 |
| 20 | João Goulart | 1961 | 1964 |
| 21 | Castelo Branco | 1964 | 1967 |
| 22 | Costa e Silva | 1967 | 1969 |
| 23 | Emílio Garrastazu Médici | 1969 | 1974 |
| 24 | Ernesto Geisel | 1974 | 1979 |
| 25 | João Figueiredo | 1979 | 1985 |
| 26 | José Sarney | 1985 | 1990 |
| 27 | Fernando Collor de Mello | 1990 | 1992 |
| 28 | Itamar Franco | 1992 | 1995 |
| 29 | Fernando Henrique Cardoso | 1995 | 2003 |
| 30 | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva | 2003 | 2011 |
| 31 | Dilma Rousseff | 2011 | 2016 |
| 32 | Michel Temer | 2016 | 2019 |
| 33 | Jair Bolsonaro | 2019 | 2023 |
| 34 | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva | 2023 | Present |
Now, let’s dive into some interesting details about key figures in Brazil’s presidential history.
The First President of Brazil
Deodoro da Fonseca (1889-1891)
Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca holds the distinction of being Brazil’s first president. He came to power in a rather unusual way – through a military coup that overthrew the monarchy of Emperor Pedro II. Imagine that! One day you’re living in an empire, and the next, you’re in a republic.
Deodoro da Fonseca was a military man through and through. He led the coup that established the republic and then became its first leader. But here’s the thing: he wasn’t exactly thrilled about it.
He was pretty reluctant to take on the role. It’s like when your friends pressure you to be the designated driver – you know it’s important, but you’re not super excited about it.
His presidency was pretty short-lived, lasting only from 1889 to 1891. Why? Well, he tried to dissolve Congress and rule as a dictator. As you can imagine, that didn’t go over too well. He ended up resigning under pressure. It’s a classic case of “power corrupts,” I suppose.
The Current President of Brazil
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2023-present)
Now, let’s fast forward to the present day. The current president of Brazil is a familiar face: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, commonly known as Lula. This guy’s story is pretty fascinating.
Lula first became president back in 2003 and served two terms until 2011. During his first stint as president, he was super popular. He implemented social programs that helped lift millions of Brazilians out of poverty. It was like he was playing real-life SimCity, but instead of building virtual cities, he was improving real people’s lives.
But then things got complicated. After leaving office, Lula faced corruption charges and even spent time in jail. Many people thought his political career was over.
But in a twist that would make even the best soap opera writers jealous, he made a comeback. He was released from prison, his convictions were annulled, and he ran for president again in 2022.
And guess what? He won! It’s like the political version of a Rocky movie – the aging champion comes back for one more fight and emerges victorious. Lula took office again in January 2023, facing the challenge of uniting a deeply divided country and addressing issues like inequality, deforestation, and economic recovery.
The Current Vice President of Brazil
Geraldo Alckmin (2023-present)
Now, let’s not forget about the vice president. The current VP of Brazil is Geraldo Alckmin. Here’s a fun fact: Alckmin and Lula used to be political rivals. Yep, you read that right. It’s like one of those buddy cop movies where two people who don’t like each other have to work together.
Alckmin is an experienced politician who served as governor of São Paulo, Brazil’s most populous and economically powerful state, for four terms.
He ran against Lula for the presidency in 2006 and lost. But in politics, yesterday’s opponent can be today’s ally. Alckmin joined Lula’s ticket in 2022 to help build a broad coalition and appeal to centrist voters.
As vice president, Alckmin’s role is to support Lula and step in if needed. He’s also been given some specific responsibilities, like overseeing the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce, and Services. It’s kind of like being the president’s right-hand man but with actual job duties.
Wrapping Up
As we’ve seen, being president of Brazil is no easy task. These leaders have faced everything from economic crises to political scandals, from military coups to the challenges of a modern democracy. It’s a job that requires skill, determination, and more than a little luck.
Looking at this list, it’s clear that Brazil’s political landscape has been anything but boring. The country has experienced periods of democracy, dictatorship, and everything in between. But through it all, Brazil has remained a major player on the world stage, known for its vibrant culture, rich natural resources, and dynamic people.
As Brazil moves forward, it faces both challenges and opportunities. Issues like economic inequality, environmental protection, and political polarization are at the forefront of national debates. But with its history of resilience and capacity for change, Brazil continues to evolve and adapt.