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João Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo (; 15 January 1918 – 24 December 1999) was a Brazilian military officer and dictator who served as the 30th president of Brazil from 1979 to 1985, the last of the military regime that ruled the country following the 1964 Brazilian coup d'état. He was chief of the Secret Service (SNI) during the term of his predecessor, Ernesto Geisel, who appointed him to the presidency at the end of his own term. Figueiredo’s presidency continued the political liberalization started under Geisel. Shortly after taking office, he approved a broad amnesty for politicians who had been removed from office under the Institutional Acts. In 1980, the two-party system was abolished, leading to the creation of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) as the successor to the MDB and the Democratic Social Party (PDS) as the successor to
ARENA An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...
, along with several new parties. Figueiredo joined the PDS. On September 22, 1981, he was awarded Portugal’s Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword. In 1982, electoral reforms were introduced to secure a majority for the ruling PDS in the upcoming elections against four opposition parties. However, his presidency saw several terrorist attacks attributed to hardline
right-wing Right-wing politics is the range of political ideologies that view certain social orders and hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position based on natural law, economics, authority, property ...
and military factions. Figueiredo’s term was marked by a severe global economic crisis, rising international interest rates, the second oil shock of 1979, and skyrocketing inflation, which surged from 45% to 230% over six years. Brazil’s foreign debt exceeded $100 billion for the first time, forcing the government to seek assistance from the
International Monetary Fund The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a major financial agency of the United Nations, and an international financial institution funded by 191 member countries, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It is regarded as the global lender of las ...
(IMF) in 1982. That same year, the state of Rondônia was created. In 1983, the '' Diretas Já'' movement pushed for direct presidential elections, but the proposal was rejected by Congress. However, the Figueiredo administration allowed an indirect presidential election, ultimately leading to the end of Brazil’s military regime. According to CIA documents, João Figueiredo supported the continuation of summary executions of political dissidents, in violation of legal and constitutional norms, as well as human rights principles.


Biography

João Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo was born in Rio de Janeiro at 11:30 BRT on 15 January 1918. He was the son of General Euclides Figueiredo and Valentina Silva de Oliveira Figueiredo, the third of six siblings. His father was exiled for trying to topple the Estado Novo regime of Getúlio Vargas in 1938. Two of his brothers were also generals. The family could trace its origins in Brazil to the 1650s, having arrived from Barcelos in Northern Portugal and owning several slaves and sugar plantations. After studying at military schools of
Porto Alegre Porto Alegre (, ; , ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian Federative units of Brazil, state of Rio Grande do Sul. Its population of roughly 1.4 million inhabitants (2022) makes it the List of largest cities in Brazil, 11th-most p ...
and Realengo, Figueiredo was promoted to captain (1944) and to major (1952). He served as the Brazilian military attache in
Paraguay Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...
(1955–1957) and worked for secret service of the Army General Staff (1959–1960). In 1961 he was transferred to the National Security Council. While teaching at the Army General Staff Command College (1961–1964), Figueiredo was promoted to colonel and appointed the department head in the National Information Service. In 1966 he assumed the command of public defense force in
São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
. In 1967–1969 he commanded a regiment in
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
and was promoted to general. When General Emílio Garrastazu Médici assumed the presidency, Figueiredo was appointed head of the president's military staff (30 October 1969 – 15 March 1974). In 1974 he assumed the leadership of the National Intelligence Service of Brazil (15 March 1974 – 14 June 1978), a Brazil's internal security agency. Picked by President Ernesto Geisel as his successor, Figueiredo campaigned vigorously, even though he could not possibly be defeated; the president was elected by a legislature dominated by the pro-military National Renewal Alliance Party. As expected, he won easily against the nominal opposition candidate, General Monteiro. As president, he continued the gradual ''abertura'' (democratization) process instituted in 1974. An amnesty law, signed by Figueiredo on 28 August 1979, amnestied those convicted of "political or related" crimes between 1961 and 1978. In the early 1980s, the military regime could no longer effectively maintain the two-party system established in 1966. The Figueiredo administration dissolved the government-controlled National Renewal Alliance Party (ARENA) and allowed new parties to be formed. In 1981 the Congress enacted a law to restore direct elections of state governors. The general election of 1982 brought victory to ARENA's successor, the pro-government Democratic Social Party (43.22% of the vote), and to the opposition Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (42.96%). The governorships of three major states—São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais—were won by the opposition. However, political developments were overshadowed by economic problems. As inflation and unemployment soared, foreign debt reached massive proportions, making Brazil the world's largest debtor, owing about US$90 billion to international lenders. The government's austerity program showed no signs of economic recovery by the end of Figueiredo's term. The president suffered a heart attack and sustained injuries from horse riding, requiring two extended medical leaves in 1981 and 1983. However, his civilian vice president, Antônio Aureliano Chaves de Mendonça, did not wield significant political power. The opposition vigorously campaigned for a constitutional amendment to allow direct popular presidential elections in November 1984, but the proposal failed to pass in Congress. Instead, opposition candidate Tancredo Neves succeeded Figueiredo after Congress held an indirect election for the new president.


Post presidency and death

After his presidency, Figueiredo did not return to politics and lived away from public attention. He would live his last years in his apartment in
São Conrado São Conrado (Portuguese language, Portuguese: Help:IPA/Portuguese, /sɐ̃w̃ kõˈʁadu/) is a neighborhood in the Rio de Janeiro#South Zone, South Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is nestled in between the neighborhoods of Barra da ...
, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro. At 9:35 BRST on 24 December 1999, at the age of 81, Figueredo died due to kidney and heart failure. After his death President Fernando Henrique Cardoso declared three days of mourning. He is buried in the Caju Cemetery in
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
.


1978 electoral college results


Gallery

File:Posse presidente da República 1979 (16132014140).jpg, Figueiredo signs official documents during his inauguration ceremony in the National Congress, 15 March 1979 File:President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan with João Figueiredo and Dulce Figueiredo.jpg, João (right) and Dulce Figueiredo with U.S. President
Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...
and First Lady Nancy Reagan before a State Dinner at the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
, 12 May 1982
Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...
and First Lady Nancy Reagan before a State Dinner at the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
, 12 May 1982 File:President Ronald Reagan riding horses with President Joao baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo of Brazil.jpg, Presidents Figueiredo and Reagan riding horses in
Brasília Brasília ( ; ) is the capital city, capital of Brazil and Federal District (Brazil), Federal District. Located in the Brazilian highlands in the country's Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region, it was founded by President Juscelino ...
, 1 December 1982


Honours


Foreign honours

* Grand Cross of the Military Order of Aviz (27 July 1972) * Grand Cross of the
Military Order of Christ The Military Order of Christ is a Honorific orders of Portugal, Portuguese honorific order. It is the former order of Knights Templar as it was reconstituted in Portugal. Before 1910, it was known as the Royal Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Chr ...
(26 July 1973) * Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword (22 September 1981) * Collar of the
Order of Isabella the Catholic The Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (; Abbreviation, Abbr.: OYC) is a knighthood and one of the three preeminent Order of merit, orders of merit bestowed by the Kingdom of Spain, alongside the Order of Charles III (established in 1771) and ...
(9 May 1983) * Grand Cross of the
Order of Prince Henry The Order of Prince Henry () is a Portuguese order of knighthood created on 2 June 1960, to commemorate the quincentenary of the death of the Portuguese ''infante'' Prince Henry the Navigator, one of the main initiators of the Age of Discovery. M ...
(2 July 1991)


See also

* List of presidents of Brazil


References


External links

*
Biography
, - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Figueiredo, Oliveira 1918 births 1999 deaths Military personnel from Rio de Janeiro (city) Politicians from Rio de Janeiro (city) Brazilian people of Portuguese descent National Renewal Alliance politicians Democratic Social Party politicians 20th-century presidents of Brazil Brazilian generals Military dictatorship in Brazil Brazilian anti-communists Collars of the Order of Isabella the Catholic Brazilian Roman Catholics