José Sarney

José Sarney was a central figure in Brazil's transition from military rule to democracy.

Born in 1930 in Pinheiro, Maranhão, he was the son of a wealthy sugarcane producer. He graduated with a law degree from the Federal University of Maranhão in 1953. Beyond politics, Sarney was also a writer and a poet. His most famous literary work is a poetry book titled "Os Marimbondos de Fogo," or "The Fire Wasps."

Sarney's political career began in the 1950s when he served as a federal deputy. He initially supported the military coup of 1964, which overthrew President João Goulart. During the military dictatorship, Sarney was a member of the government party, ARENA. He rose through the ranks to become the president of ARENA in 1979. He also served as the Governor of Maranhão from 1966 until 1970. Later, he held a seat in the Brazilian Senate for many years.

In the early 1980s, the political landscape in Brazil began to change significantly. The military government faced intense pressure from the "Diretas Já" movement, which demanded direct elections. While the ruling party, PDS, was divided, Sarney chose to break away. He helped create the Liberal Front Party to join the opposition. This allowed him to run as the vice-presidential candidate alongside Tancredo Neves. Neves belonged to the PMDB, which had been the primary opposition party.

The election of 1985 resulted in a victory for the Neves and Sarney ticket. However, a sudden crisis occurred when Neves became gravely ill before his inauguration. Neves died on April 21, 1985, which left Sarney as the president. His rise to power was controversial among some politicians. Some argued that the powers should pass to the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Ulysses Guimarães. However, Guimarães supported Sarney, noting that the vice president is meant to replace the president.

Sarney's presidency was defined by a struggle against extreme economic instability. Brazil was suffering from rampant inflation, which reached a rate of 934 percent. To combat this, Sarney and Finance Minister Dilson Funaro launched the Cruzado Plan. This plan attempted to stop rising costs by freezing prices. When the Cruzado Plan failed, the government introduced the Bresser Plan and the Summer Plan. Despite these efforts, the plans were ineffective at stopping the economic crisis. The country also faced a massive foreign debt and frequent union strikes.

Despite these economic hardships, Sarney oversaw important structural changes. He convened the 1987 National Constituent Assembly to rewrite the nation's laws. This resulted in the 1988 Brazilian Constitution, which replaced the previous authoritarian version. In foreign policy, Sarney signed the Iguaçu Declaration with Argentina's president, Raúl Alfonsín. This agreement was a foundational step toward creating Mercosur, a regional trade bloc. He also restored diplomatic relations with Cuba, which had been suspended during the military era.

Sarney's legacy remains a subject of intense debate in Brazil. While he helped lead the transition to civilian rule, his administration faced accusations of corruption and clientelism. Some critics viewed his political style as part of an old-fashioned system of power. After his presidency, Sarney returned to the Senate, representing Amapá. He served in the Senate until his retirement in 2015. At that time, he held one of the longest congressional careers in the history of the Brazilian Republic.