Brazilian presidential election, 1945
Encyclopedia
Presidential elections were held in Brazil
on December 2, 1945. These were the first elections since the establishment of Getúlio Vargas
' Estado Novo
.
, Vargas was forced by the military to re-democratize the country. However, the military feared that Vargas would suspend the elections like he had suspended the scheduled 1938 elections in 1937 and staged a preventive coup which prematurely removed Vargas from power on October 29, 1945 and installed a caretaker government led by José Linhares
to ensure the free and fair carry-out of the elections.
During this era of liberalization, Vargas founded two parties: the Social Democratic Party
(PSD), a centre-right party composed primarily of the national industrial bourgeoisie which had supported Vargas and Vargas' interventors in the states, and the Brazilian Labour Party
(PTB) composed of the urban working class and trade union movement. The PSD would become the largest party of the two, although Vargas used the PTB as his personal machine. The PSD consistently had the largest number of deputies until the 1964 military coup. The Vargista coalition had nominated Vargas' War Minister Eurico Gaspar Dutra
earlier in 1945, but the PTB and Vargas offered Dutra's fledgling candidacy only lukewarm support.
Vargas' traditional opponents had founded the National Democratic Union (UDN) in April 1945. The UDN, a conservative party defending economic liberalism
through public incentive to foreign capital, was mostly a party of intellectuals and the urban middle-class, as well as the remnants of the oligarchic interests of the República Velha. It nominated the former tenente and Air Force
brigadier Eduardo Gomes
, later known for participating in the 1964 coup, as its presidential candidate. Gomes notably advocated repealing a majority of the social legislation and labour reforms passed during the Vargas rule.
Legalized by Vargas in 1945, the Brazilian Communist Party
, led by the popular Luís Carlos Prestes
nominated a little-known engineer, Yedo Fiúza
, who won almost 10% of the vote.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
on December 2, 1945. These were the first elections since the establishment of Getúlio Vargas
Getúlio Vargas
Getúlio Dornelles Vargas served as President of Brazil, first as dictator, from 1930 to 1945, and in a democratically elected term from 1951 until his suicide in 1954. Vargas led Brazil for 18 years, the most for any President, and second in Brazilian history to Emperor Pedro II...
' Estado Novo
Estado Novo (Brazil)
Vargas Era is the period in the history of Brazil that lasted from 1930 to 1945, when the country was under the leadership of Getúlio Dornelles Vargas....
.
Historical context
Following the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Vargas was forced by the military to re-democratize the country. However, the military feared that Vargas would suspend the elections like he had suspended the scheduled 1938 elections in 1937 and staged a preventive coup which prematurely removed Vargas from power on October 29, 1945 and installed a caretaker government led by José Linhares
José Linhares
José Linhares, .Brazilian Chief of Justice and lifetime senator. Assumed the presidency of Brazil in 1945–1946, between the deposition of Getúlio Vargas and the oath of Eurico Gaspar Dutra. During his provisional administration, measures were taken to re-establish a democratic system of...
to ensure the free and fair carry-out of the elections.
During this era of liberalization, Vargas founded two parties: the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Brazil)
The Social Democratic Party was a liberal political party in Brazil between 1945 and 1965. Founded as a center-right party by Getúlio Vargas together with the left-leaning Brazilian Labour Party, it elected Presidents Eurico Gaspar Dutra in 1945 and Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira in 1955...
(PSD), a centre-right party composed primarily of the national industrial bourgeoisie which had supported Vargas and Vargas' interventors in the states, and the Brazilian Labour Party
Brazilian Labour Party (historical)
The Brazilian Labour Party was a center-left populist political party in Brazil founded in 1945 by supporters of the late Getúlio Vargas. It was dismantled by the military after 1964 coup d'état.-History:...
(PTB) composed of the urban working class and trade union movement. The PSD would become the largest party of the two, although Vargas used the PTB as his personal machine. The PSD consistently had the largest number of deputies until the 1964 military coup. The Vargista coalition had nominated Vargas' War Minister Eurico Gaspar Dutra
Eurico Gaspar Dutra
Eurico Gaspar Dutra , was a Brazilian marshal, politician and president of Brazil from 1946–1951.He was born in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, and like many other Brazilians, was from Azorean-Portuguese origin...
earlier in 1945, but the PTB and Vargas offered Dutra's fledgling candidacy only lukewarm support.
Vargas' traditional opponents had founded the National Democratic Union (UDN) in April 1945. The UDN, a conservative party defending economic liberalism
Economic liberalism
Economic liberalism is the ideological belief in giving all people economic freedom, and as such granting people with more basis to control their own lives and make their own mistakes. It is an economic philosophy that supports and promotes individual liberty and choice in economic matters and...
through public incentive to foreign capital, was mostly a party of intellectuals and the urban middle-class, as well as the remnants of the oligarchic interests of the República Velha. It nominated the former tenente and Air Force
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
brigadier Eduardo Gomes
Eduardo Gomes
Air Marshal Eduardo Gomes was a Brazilian politician and military figure. He was born in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil....
, later known for participating in the 1964 coup, as its presidential candidate. Gomes notably advocated repealing a majority of the social legislation and labour reforms passed during the Vargas rule.
Legalized by Vargas in 1945, the Brazilian Communist Party
Brazilian Communist Party
Brazilian Communist Party is the oldest political party still active in Brazil, founded in 1922, and one of the only Brazilian parties with a Stalinist orientation...
, led by the popular Luís Carlos Prestes
Luís Carlos Prestes
Luís Carlos Prestes was a leader of the 1920s tenente rebellion and the Communist opposition to the dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas in Brazil....
nominated a little-known engineer, Yedo Fiúza
Yedo Fiúza
Yedo Fiúza was a Brazilian politician. He served as mayor of Petrópolis. He contested the 1945 presidential election as an antimilitarist independent, with the support of the Brazilian Communist Party. Fiúza surprised political analysts by polling half a million votes....
, who won almost 10% of the vote.
Results
Due notably to the endorsement of Vargas, who remained popular following his overthrow, Dutra won an absolute majority.President
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eurico Gaspar Dutra Eurico Gaspar Dutra Eurico Gaspar Dutra , was a Brazilian marshal, politician and president of Brazil from 1946–1951.He was born in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, and like many other Brazilians, was from Azorean-Portuguese origin... (PSD Social Democratic Party (Brazil) The Social Democratic Party was a liberal political party in Brazil between 1945 and 1965. Founded as a center-right party by Getúlio Vargas together with the left-leaning Brazilian Labour Party, it elected Presidents Eurico Gaspar Dutra in 1945 and Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira in 1955... , PTB Brazilian Labour Party (historical) The Brazilian Labour Party was a center-left populist political party in Brazil founded in 1945 by supporters of the late Getúlio Vargas. It was dismantled by the military after 1964 coup d'état.-History:... ) |
3,236,029 | 55.32% | |
| Eduardo Gomes Eduardo Gomes Air Marshal Eduardo Gomes was a Brazilian politician and military figure. He was born in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.... (UDN) |
2,034,383 | 34.78% | |
| Yedo Fiúza Yedo Fiúza Yedo Fiúza was a Brazilian politician. He served as mayor of Petrópolis. He contested the 1945 presidential election as an antimilitarist independent, with the support of the Brazilian Communist Party. Fiúza surprised political analysts by polling half a million votes.... (PCB Brazilian Communist Party Brazilian Communist Party is the oldest political party still active in Brazil, founded in 1922, and one of the only Brazilian parties with a Stalinist orientation... ) |
603,500 | 9.73% | |
| Rolim Teles (PAN) | 9,995 | 0.17% | |
| Total | 5,849,314 | 100.00% | |
External links
- Result of the 1945 Brazilian election
- Article about the 1945 Brazilian election at the official website of Fundação Getúlio VargasFundação Getúlio VargasFundação Getulio Vargas is a Brazilian higher education institution founded on December 20, 1944. It offers regular courses of Economics, Business Administration, Law, Social Sciences and Information technology management...