Changes

At the same time, an electoral college consisting of all members of congress and six delegates chosen from each state continued to choose the president. In January 1985, the electoral college voted Tancredo Neves from the opposition Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) into office as President. However, Neves became ill in March and died a month later. His Vice President, former Senator Jose Sarney, became President upon Neves' death. Brazil completed its transition to a popularly elected government in 1989, when Fernando Collor de Mello won 53% of the vote in the first direct presidential election in 29 years. In 1992, a major corruption scandal led to his impeachment and ultimate resignation. Vice President Itamar Franco took his place and governed for the remainder of Collor's term culminating in the October 3, 1994 presidential elections, when Fernando Henrique Cardoso was elected President with 54% of the vote. Cardoso took office January 1, 1995, and pursued a program of ambitious economic reform. He was re-elected in October 1998 for a second four-year term. Luiz Inacio da Silva, commonly known as Lula, was elected president in 2002, after his fourth campaign for the office.

At the same time, an electoral college consisting of all members of congress and six delegates chosen from each state continued to choose the president. In January 1985, the electoral college voted Tancredo Neves from the opposition Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) into office as President. However, Neves became ill in March and died a month later. His Vice President, former Senator Jose Sarney, became President upon Neves' death. Brazil completed its transition to a popularly elected government in 1989, when Fernando Collor de Mello won 53% of the vote in the first direct presidential election in 29 years. In 1992, a major corruption scandal led to his impeachment and ultimate resignation. Vice President Itamar Franco took his place and governed for the remainder of Collor's term culminating in the October 3, 1994 presidential elections, when Fernando Henrique Cardoso was elected President with 54% of the vote. Cardoso took office January 1, 1995, and pursued a program of ambitious economic reform. He was re-elected in October 1998 for a second four-year term. Luiz Inacio da Silva, commonly known as Lula, was elected president in 2002, after his fourth campaign for the office.

President Lula, a former union leader, is Brazil's first working-class president. Since taking office he has taken a prudent fiscal path, warning that social reforms would take years and that Brazil had no alternative but to maintain tight fiscal austerity policies. Economic growth in 2004 and the first half of 2005 was strong with increases in employment and real wages. Growth slowed somewhat in the second half of 2005, but rebounded modestly in 2006.

President Lula, a former union leader, was Brazil's first working-class president. After taking office, he took a prudent fiscal path, warning that social reforms would take years and that Brazil had no alternative but to maintain tight fiscal austerity policies. Economic growth in 2004 and the first half of 2005 was strong with increases in employment and real wages. Growth slowed somewhat in the second half of 2005, but rebounded modestly in 2006.

 

Brazilian President [[Dilma Rousseff]] was impeached for corruption in 2016. In 2017, [[Lula da Silva]] was convicted of corruption. Both political figures are socialists. Brazil has seen a growing [[conservative]] and [[evangelical]] movement.<ref>Pearson, Samantha (April 8, 2018). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/brazil-turns-rightward-heralding-new-chapter-for-latin-america-1523216901 Brazil Turns Rightward, Heralding New Chapter for Latin America]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved April 9, 2018.</ref> In 2018, Brazil ended 15 years of Marxist rule by electing [[Jair Bolsonaro]], a strong conservative and nationalist, as president.

Brazilian President [[Dilma Rousseff]] was impeached for corruption in 2016. In 2017, [[Lula da Silva]] was convicted of corruption. Both political figures are socialists. Brazil has seen a growing [[conservative]] and [[evangelical]] movement.<ref>Pearson, Samantha (April 8, 2018). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/brazil-turns-rightward-heralding-new-chapter-for-latin-america-1523216901 Brazil Turns Rightward, Heralding New Chapter for Latin America]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved April 9, 2018.</ref> In 2018, Brazil ended 15 years of Marxist rule by electing [[Jair Bolsonaro]], a strong conservative and nationalist, as president.