He continued the process of redemocratization that Geisel had started and sanctioned a law decreeing amnesty for all political crimes committed during the regime. His term was marked by a severe economic crisis and growing dissatisfaction with the military rule, culminating in the Diretas Já protests of 1984, which clamored for direct elections for the Presidency, the last of which had taken place 24 years prior. Figueiredo opposed this and in 1984 Congress rejected the immediate return of direct elections, in favor of an indirect election by Congress, which was nonetheless won by the opposition candidate Tancredo Neves. Figueiredo retired after the end of his term and died in 1999.
Figueiredo (center, in cadet uniform) with his family and others aboard Itajubá, 18 October 1932
Figueiredo as Chief Minister of the Military Cabinet, 1972
João Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo was the son of General Euclides Figueiredo [pt], exiled for trying to topple the Estado Novo regime of Getúlio Vargas in 1932. 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 and Realengo, Figueiredo was promoted to captain (1944) and to major (1952). He served as the Brazilian military attache in Paraguay (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. In 1967–1969 he commanded a regiment in Rio de Janeiro 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 governorship of three major states, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, was won by the opposition. However, political developments were overshadowed by economic problems. As inflation and unemployment soared, the foreign debt reached massive proportions making Brazil the world's biggest debtor owing about US$90 billion to international lenders. The austerity program imposed by the government brought no signs of recovery for the Brazilian economy until the end of Figueiredo's term. The president had a heart attack and injuries from horse riding and took two prolonged leaves for health treatment in 1981 and 1983, but civilian vice president Antônio Aureliano Chaves de Mendonça did not enjoy major political power. The opposition vigorously struggled to pass a constitutional amendment that would allow direct popular Presidential elections in November 1984, but the proposal failed to win passage in the Congress. The opposition candidate Tancredo Neves succeeded Figueiredo when Congress held an election for the new president. He did not return to politics, lived away from the public attention and died on 24 December 1999. After his death President Fernando Henrique Cardoso declared three days of mourning.[3]
1978 electoral college results
João Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo – 355
Euler Bentes Monteiro – 225
Absents – 11
Gallery
Figueiredo signs official documents during his inauguration ceremony in the National Congress, 15 March 1979
joão, figueiredo, portuguese, politician, joão, cotrim, figueiredo, this, portuguese, name, first, maternal, family, name, oliveira, second, paternal, family, name, figueiredo, joão, baptista, oliveira, figueiredo, portuguese, ʒuˈɐ, baˈtʃistɐ, dʒi, oliˈvejɾɐ, . For the Portuguese politician see Joao Cotrim de Figueiredo In this Portuguese name the first or maternal family name is Oliveira and the second or paternal family name is Figueiredo Joao Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo Portuguese ʒuˈɐ w baˈtʃistɐ dʒi oliˈvejɾɐ fiɡejˈɾedu ˈʒwɐ w 15 January 1918 24 December 1999 was a Brazilian military leader and politician who was 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 etat 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 mandate His ExcellencyJoao FigueiredoOfficial portrait 1979President of BrazilIn office 15 March 1979 15 March 1985 1 2 Vice PresidentAureliano ChavesPreceded byErnesto GeiselSucceeded byJose SarneyHead of the National Intelligence ServiceIn office 15 March 1974 14 June 1978Nominated byErnesto GeiselPreceded byCarlos Alberto da FontouraSucceeded byOtavio Aguiar de MedeirosChief Minister of the Military CabinetIn office 30 October 1969 15 March 1974Nominated byEmilio Garrastazu MediciPreceded byJaime Portela de MeloSucceeded byHugo de AbreuPersonal detailsBornJoao Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo 1918 01 15 15 January 1918Rio de Janeiro Federal District BrazilDied24 December 1999 1999 12 24 aged 81 Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro BrazilResting placeSao Francisco Xavier CemeteryPolitical partyPDS 1979 1985 ARENA 1978 1979 SpouseDulce Castro m 1942 wbr Children2Alma materRealengo Military SchoolOfficers Improvement SchoolSignatureMilitary serviceAllegiance BrazilBranch service Brazilian ArmyYears of service1935 1979RankArmy GeneralCommandsNational Intelligence Service Rio de Janeiro Section Department of Public Security of Sao Paulo 1st Guards Cavalry Regiment General Staff of the Third ArmyBattles warsCommunist Uprising of 1935 1964 Brazilian coup d etatHe continued the process of redemocratization that Geisel had started and sanctioned a law decreeing amnesty for all political crimes committed during the regime His term was marked by a severe economic crisis and growing dissatisfaction with the military rule culminating in the Diretas Ja protests of 1984 which clamored for direct elections for the Presidency the last of which had taken place 24 years prior Figueiredo opposed this and in 1984 Congress rejected the immediate return of direct elections in favor of an indirect election by Congress which was nonetheless won by the opposition candidate Tancredo Neves Figueiredo retired after the end of his term and died in 1999 Contents 1 Biography 2 1978 electoral college results 3 Gallery 4 Honours 4 1 Foreign honours 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBiography Edit Figueiredo center in cadet uniform with his family and others aboard Itajuba 18 October 1932 Figueiredo as Chief Minister of the Military Cabinet 1972 Joao Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo was the son of General Euclides Figueiredo pt exiled for trying to topple the Estado Novo regime of Getulio Vargas in 1932 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 and Realengo Figueiredo was promoted to captain 1944 and to major 1952 He served as the Brazilian military attache in Paraguay 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 Sao Paulo In 1967 1969 he commanded a regiment in Rio de Janeiro and was promoted to general When General Emilio Garrastazu Medici 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 Figueiredo in the Palacio do Planalto the official workplace of the president On the wall a portrait of Emperor Pedro I The governorship of three major states Sao Paulo Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais was won by the opposition However political developments were overshadowed by economic problems As inflation and unemployment soared the foreign debt reached massive proportions making Brazil the world s biggest debtor owing about US 90 billion to international lenders The austerity program imposed by the government brought no signs of recovery for the Brazilian economy until the end of Figueiredo s term The president had a heart attack and injuries from horse riding and took two prolonged leaves for health treatment in 1981 and 1983 but civilian vice president Antonio Aureliano Chaves de Mendonca did not enjoy major political power The opposition vigorously struggled to pass a constitutional amendment that would allow direct popular Presidential elections in November 1984 but the proposal failed to win passage in the Congress The opposition candidate Tancredo Neves succeeded Figueiredo when Congress held an election for the new president He did not return to politics lived away from the public attention and died on 24 December 1999 After his death President Fernando Henrique Cardoso declared three days of mourning 3 1978 electoral college results EditJoao Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo 355 Euler Bentes Monteiro 225 Absents 11Gallery Edit Figueiredo signs official documents during his inauguration ceremony in the National Congress 15 March 1979 Joao right and Dulce Figueiredo with U S President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan before a State Dinner at the White House 12 May 1982 Presidents Figueiredo and Reagan riding horses in Brasilia 1 December 1982Honours EditForeign honours Edit Grand Cross of the Military Order of Aviz 27 July 1972 4 Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ 26 July 1973 4 Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword 22 September 1981 4 Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic 9 May 1983 5 Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry 2 July 1991 4 See also EditList of presidents of BrazilReferences Edit Galery of presidents in Portuguese Palacio do Planalto Retrieved 3 February 2016 Governo Fernando Henrique Cardoso in Portuguese Brasil Escola Retrieved 9 February 2016 Joao Figueiredo military ruler who opened Brazil to democracy dies at 81 a b c d Cidadaos Estrangeiros Agraciados com Ordens Portuguesas Pagina Oficial das Ordens Honorificas Portuguesas Retrieved 8 April 2017 Real Decreto 1626 1983 de 9 de mayo Boletin Oficial del Estado Retrieved 30 August 2020 External links Edit Media related to Joao Figueiredo at Wikimedia Commons BiographyPolitical officesPreceded byJaime Portela de Melo Chief Minister of the Military Cabinet1969 74 Succeeded byHugo de AbreuPreceded byCarlos Alberto da Fontoura Head of the National Intelligence Service1974 78 Succeeded byOtavio Aguiar de MedeirosPreceded byErnesto Geisel President of Brazil1979 85 Succeeded byJose Sarney Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joao Figueiredo amp oldid 1132624961, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
