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Ernesto Geisel was a Brazilian politician, that served as the country’s president from 1974 to 1979. The penultimate president of the Brazilian military regime, during his tenure, Geisel started the slow process that would convert the country into a democracy again. His motto advocated a “slow, gradual and secure openness”. Geisel was especially important for Brazilian politics during this period, because he was a sympathizer of the moderate school of thought of the military institution, which meant that he was determined to work in favor of important social reforms, facing, as a result, ardent opposition from the military generals and politicians known as linha-dura (hard-line), a branch of government conservative officials that wished a continuation of a more rigid and rigorous stance of the state towards the population.
Born in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil (the same where I live [several other Brazilian presidents came from this state as well, especially during the military regime {the most notorious Brazilian president, Getúlio Vargas, was also from Rio Grande do Sul; he presided over Brazil for two distinct periods: the first one as a dictator, from 1930 to 1945, during a period known as Estado Novo, and then from 1951 to 1954, by virtue of democratic elections; Vargas committed suicide in the Palácio of Catete, in August 24, 1954}]), in the city of Bento Gonçalves, in August 3, 1907, Geisel was the son of German immigrants, and spent his youth studying in military academies. His ascension in the political arena came only after the military coup of 1964, when Geisel fell into the favor of then president Castelo Branco, the first president of the military regime, and one of the articulators of the military coup. Nevertheless, before that, Geisel had a profound experience and a vast and long career as a civil servant, having worked in several government institutions throughout his life.
Born in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil (the same where I live [several other Brazilian presidents came from this state as well, especially during the military regime {the most notorious Brazilian president, Getúlio Vargas, was also from Rio Grande do Sul; he presided over Brazil for two distinct periods: the first one as a dictator, from 1930 to 1945, during a period known as Estado Novo, and then from 1951 to 1954, by virtue of democratic elections; Vargas committed suicide in the Palácio of Catete, in August 24, 1954}]), in the city of Bento Gonçalves, in August 3, 1907, Geisel was the son of German immigrants, and spent his youth studying in military academies. His ascension in the political arena came only after the military coup of 1964, when Geisel fell into the favor of then president Castelo Branco, the first president of the military regime, and one of the articulators of the military coup. Nevertheless, before that, Geisel had a profound experience and a vast and long career as a civil servant, having worked in several government institutions throughout his life.
Under Castelo Branco’s tutelage, Geisel was nominated leader of the Military Parliament. Then, in a direct sequence of events, in 1966 Castelo Branco elevated Geisel to the ranks of general, only to promote him Minister of the Superior Military Court in 1967. Nonetheless, Geisel’s behavior was discreet. He only wished to execute the functions and duties he was told to. By this point, Geisel probably would never have imagined that he would be, in the near future, president of the country.
With the death of Castelo Branco in 1967, internal disputes arose for the rights of succession to the presidency, within the two main military branches, the moderates and the hard-lines. Geisel obviously sided with the castelistas, a group of militaries and politicians that were ardent oppositionists to the election of Costa e Silva (another politician from Rio Grande do Sul) to the presidency of the republic. A former official of the Ministry of War during Castelo Branco’s tenure as president, Costa e Silva, a hard-line, was eventually elected, giving rise to the most repressive, cruel, hostile and violent period of the military regime. Costa e Silva’s tenure as president, though, was quite short. Assuming office in the beginning of 1967, in 1969 he suffered a stroke, dying a few months later. Initially replaced by a provisional junta, his substitute, Emílio Garrastazu Médici (also from Rio Grande do Sul), inflicted over the civil population a continuation of the brutality and the repression initiated by Costa e Silva.
During this period, Médici nominated Geisel – that has been also extensively involved with the oil business throughout his life – president of Petrobras, a state owned oil company, that detains the monopoly, the resources and the commercialization of petroleum in the country. The support that his brother, Orlando Geisel, offered to Médici during his tenure as president, eventually made him chose Ernesto as a successor. Disputing the office as member of a party called ARENA (Aliança Renovadora Nacional), Ernesto Geisel defeated his opponents, Ulysses Guimarães – that, probably assassinated in 1992 during a travel in a helicopter that was deliberately sabotaged, would become one of the most notorious Brazilian politicians – and Barbosa Lima Sobrinho.
With the death of Castelo Branco in 1967, internal disputes arose for the rights of succession to the presidency, within the two main military branches, the moderates and the hard-lines. Geisel obviously sided with the castelistas, a group of militaries and politicians that were ardent oppositionists to the election of Costa e Silva (another politician from Rio Grande do Sul) to the presidency of the republic. A former official of the Ministry of War during Castelo Branco’s tenure as president, Costa e Silva, a hard-line, was eventually elected, giving rise to the most repressive, cruel, hostile and violent period of the military regime. Costa e Silva’s tenure as president, though, was quite short. Assuming office in the beginning of 1967, in 1969 he suffered a stroke, dying a few months later. Initially replaced by a provisional junta, his substitute, Emílio Garrastazu Médici (also from Rio Grande do Sul), inflicted over the civil population a continuation of the brutality and the repression initiated by Costa e Silva.
During this period, Médici nominated Geisel – that has been also extensively involved with the oil business throughout his life – president of Petrobras, a state owned oil company, that detains the monopoly, the resources and the commercialization of petroleum in the country. The support that his brother, Orlando Geisel, offered to Médici during his tenure as president, eventually made him chose Ernesto as a successor. Disputing the office as member of a party called ARENA (Aliança Renovadora Nacional), Ernesto Geisel defeated his opponents, Ulysses Guimarães – that, probably assassinated in 1992 during a travel in a helicopter that was deliberately sabotaged, would become one of the most notorious Brazilian politicians – and Barbosa Lima Sobrinho.
Ernesto Geisel, with American President Jimmy Carter, and First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Several interesting changes occurred during Geisel’s presidency. Probably the most notorious – and remains fundamental to his body of legacies – were changes in the Brazilian political map. Geisel divided the state of Mato Grosso, creating a new state, Mato Grosso do Sul, and diluted the state of Guanabara (today Rio de Janeiro), giving it city status and merging it with the eponymous state, turning it into its capital.
During Geisel’s term of office, one of the greatest achievements was the dissolution of both the censorship and the AI-5, a severe political amendment that invalidated the constitution, and gave plenipotentiary powers to the state repression apparatus.
In 1978, Geisel faced the now historical general strike of metallurgical workers, led by former metallurgist and union representative, Luís Inácio Lula da Silva, that would eventually rise in the political arena, to become the president of Brazil for two consecutive terms, from 2003 to 2010. Probably the most corrupt politician in the country’s history – and considered among the worst in a global scale – Lula has been responding to several court and judicial orders in recent years, being systematically implicated in the most horrifying political scandals of Brazilian history.
Geisel’s presidency was mainly marked by ostensive plans to control the inflation – a chronic problem in Brazil’s financial system at the time, destined to continue in the years to come –, devised and elaborated strategies to boost the economy’s development, presided the inauguration of subway lines in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and oversaw the beginning of the construction of the Hydroelectric Power Plant of Itaipu.
After his term expired, Geisel supported a politician named Tancredo Neves to be the country’s president. Tancredo won, but died before assuming office.
The post-presidency life of Ernesto Geisel was a quiet and discreet one. He continued his work in oil companies, and together with his wife, Lucy, divided his time between his apartment in Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, and a farm in Teresópolis. Geisel died in September 12, 1996, 89 years old.
Wagner
During Geisel’s term of office, one of the greatest achievements was the dissolution of both the censorship and the AI-5, a severe political amendment that invalidated the constitution, and gave plenipotentiary powers to the state repression apparatus.
In 1978, Geisel faced the now historical general strike of metallurgical workers, led by former metallurgist and union representative, Luís Inácio Lula da Silva, that would eventually rise in the political arena, to become the president of Brazil for two consecutive terms, from 2003 to 2010. Probably the most corrupt politician in the country’s history – and considered among the worst in a global scale – Lula has been responding to several court and judicial orders in recent years, being systematically implicated in the most horrifying political scandals of Brazilian history.
Geisel’s presidency was mainly marked by ostensive plans to control the inflation – a chronic problem in Brazil’s financial system at the time, destined to continue in the years to come –, devised and elaborated strategies to boost the economy’s development, presided the inauguration of subway lines in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and oversaw the beginning of the construction of the Hydroelectric Power Plant of Itaipu.
After his term expired, Geisel supported a politician named Tancredo Neves to be the country’s president. Tancredo won, but died before assuming office.
The post-presidency life of Ernesto Geisel was a quiet and discreet one. He continued his work in oil companies, and together with his wife, Lucy, divided his time between his apartment in Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, and a farm in Teresópolis. Geisel died in September 12, 1996, 89 years old.
Wagner
