The presidency of José Sarney, also called the José Sarney government (March 15, 1985 - March 15, 1990) was a period in Brazilian political history that corresponds to José Ribamar Ferreira Araújo da Costa Sarney's first mandate as President of the Republic until his succession by Fernando Collor. Sarney took over the position on an interim basis after Tancredo Neves was hospitalized, and definitively on April 21, 1985, with his death, when Sarney became the first civilian president after more than twenty years of military dictatorship in Brazil.
The Sarney government recorded a growth of 22.72% in GDP (average of 4.54%) and 12.51% in per capita income (average of 2.5%). Sarney took office with inflation at 242.24% and delivered at 1972.91%.
Background
The country had been ruled by a military dictatorship since the Civil-Military Coup of 1964. The government was weakened, divided between the hard-line (more radical) military and the moderate military. The economy was suffering from high inflation, people were taking to the streets in the so-called "Diretas Já". Military officer Ernesto Geisel, president between 1974 and 1979, guaranteed a "slow, safe and gradual distension". Thus began the political opening. Little by little, the opposition, the old Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) gained strength. But it was under the government of João Figueiredo (1979-1985) that the country went over to civilians, after years of frustration. In 1985, Tancredo Neves was elected by the electoral college with 480 votes against 180 for Paulo Maluf who represented the dictatorship.
On the eve of Tancredo's inauguration on March 14, 1985, he was hospitalized. The next day, José Sarney took over on an interim basis until the incumbent took office. On April 21, 1985, Tancredo died at the age of 75, and José Sarney became permanent president.
Ministers of State
Redemocratization
When he took office, Sarney stated that changes would come during the redemocratization process. The first of these came on May 8, 1985, when the constitutional amendment that established direct elections for president, mayor and governor was approved. Illiterate people were given the right to vote for the first time in Brazilian history, and communist parties were legalized.
In the process of redemocratization, a new Constitution was needed. This was because the 1967 constitution had been made during the military regime, and thus had a dictatorial character. On February 1, 1987, the Constituent Assembly of 1988 took office, responsible for creating the new constitution. The president of the Assembly was Ulysses Guimarães (PMDB-SP). Most of the Constituent Assembly was formed by the Democratic Center (PMDB, PFL, PTB, PDS and smaller parties), also known as the "Centrão". They were supported by the Executive Branch, represented conservative factions of society, and had a decisive influence on the work of the Constituent Assembly and the outcome of important decisions, such as the maintenance of the agrarian policy and the role of the Armed Forces.
Regardless of the controversies of a political nature, the 1988 Federal Constitution ensured several constitutional guarantees, with the objective of giving greater effectiveness to fundamental rights, allowing the participation of the Judiciary whenever there is injury or threat of injury to rights. To demonstrate the change that was taking place in the Brazilian governmental system, which had recently emerged from an authoritarian regime, the 1988 Constitution qualified torture and armed actions against the democratic state and constitutional order as non-bailable crimes, thus creating constitutional devices to block coups of any nature. Direct elections were determined. According to historian Boris Fausto, the text reflected the pressures of the various groups in society, interested in defining norms that would benefit them.
Economy
Brazil suffered from high inflation and international crises. To try to "unburden the country", the government created several economic plans.