See also List of Presidents of Brazil

The President of the Federal Republic of Brazil is the head of state and head of government of Brazil. He is also the supreme commander of the Brazilian Armed Forces .

The first president of Brazil was Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, who proclamated the republic in a military coup d'etât against the Emperor Dom Pedro II. Since then, Brazil had six constitutions, two dictatorships and three democratic periods.

The current president is Luís Inácio Lula da Silva, from the Worker's Party, elected in 2002 for the 2003-2006 term. He was the most voted president in all the world until then, receiving 56,7 million votes.

Requirements to hold office

According the 1988 Constitution , the president must be natural-born citizen of Brazil, be at least 35 years of age, be a resident in Brazil, be an elector, have all the electoral rights and be inscripted in a political party.

The length of the Term

Nowadays, the president serves a four-year term. The president can be reelected to just one more term sequencially.

The reelection for executive posts exists since 1997, when the Amendment nº 16 was passed. It was very controversial, because Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who was president at the time, was reelected.

History

• The 1891 Constitution estabilished a four-year term and did not allow reelection.
• The 1934 Constitution estabilished a four-year term and allow reelection.
• The 1946 Constitution estabilished a five-year term and did not allow reelection.
• The 1946 Constitution estabilished a four-year term.
• The 1988 Constitution estabilished a five-year term, but it was shortened in 1994 with the Amendment nº 5 .
• Nowadays there's some discussions about establishing a six-years term and eliminating reelection.

External links

• Brazil: Heads of State: 1889-2005