Elected in 1985 but never inaugurated, Tancredo Neves’ legacy permeates Brazilian politics. Aécio Neves, his grandson, carried the torch. Tancredo Neves hailed from Minas Gerais. He was born in São João del Rei. It lies a few hours from Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro. Neves studied law. He graduated in 1932.
Neves entered politics early. In 1935 he was elected to the municipal council. He became president of the council. Vargas established the Estado Novo. It shuttered municipal chambers. Neves practiced law. He represented railroad workers. He also ran a textile business.
After Vargas’s government ended in 1945, Neves returned to politics. He joined the Partido Social Democrático. Vargas had created it in the 1940s. Neves won a seat in Minas Gerais’s state legislature in 1947. He was elected to Brazil’s legislature in 1950. Vargas appointed Neves Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs. He served until Vargas’s suicide in 1954. Neves won another term as a federal representative. He served from 1954 to 1955. He held business-related positions in Minas Gerais and the federal government.
Neves gained national recognition in 1961. President Jânio Quadros resigned. The military opposed Vice President João Goulart’s succession. They feared his progressive views. Goulart was touring China. The military viewed this as communist sympathy. Students and leftist politicians supported Goulart. The military allowed Goulart to become president. But Brazil became a parliamentary republic. Goulart had to have a prime minister.
Goulart chose Neves as Prime Minister. Congress approved. Neves became the first prime minister. His cabinet passed educational reforms. Elementary school became mandatory. 12% of the national budget went to education. Elementary teachers needed high school diplomas. Secondary teachers needed college degrees. It also created a national academic calendar. The cabinet addressed socioeconomic inequalities. It moved toward agrarian reform. Farmers demanded more rapid reforms. Conservative elites distanced themselves. The cabinet resigned in 1962. Neves ran for Congress. He won easily.
Neves supported Goulart. A military coup overthrew Goulart in 1964. Neves opposed the military intervention. He was the only member of his party. He didn’t vote for Humberto Castelo Branco. Neves became a leading critic of the regime. The military abolished parties. It created the MDB and ARENA. Neves joined the MDB. He became a leader. Limited elections still occurred. Neves served in the Chamber of Deputies from 1963 to 1979.
Neves became a Senator in 1979. President João Figueiredo abolished the two-party system. Neves formed the Partido Popular. It merged with the PMDB. Neves became vice-president. He also won the governorship of Minas Gerais.
In 1983 Dante de Oliveira proposed direct presidential elections. The Diretas Já movement united the opposition. The bill failed. But Diretas Já showed the opposition’s power. The PMDB selected Neves to run for president. Lula and the PT criticized Neves. They thought he was too moderate. His moderation appealed to many. His history and appearance made him acceptable to the military. José Sarney joined as vice president. In 1985 Congress elected Neves president.
Neves fell ill before his inauguration. Sarney was inaugurated as vice-president. Neves underwent surgery. He faced complications. He died on April 21, 1985.
The country grieved. Sarney became president. Some alleged murder. His funeral was televised. Memorials commemorated him.
Neves’ impact was profound. He helped navigate the transition to democracy. His articulation helped Diretas Já. He made the opposition’s election possible. His grandson, Aécio Neves, ran for president.