Collor de Mello, Fernando

Collor de Mello, Fernando (fərnäNd kôlôr` də mĕl`), 1949–, president of Brazil (1990–92). In 1990, he became the youngest president of Brazil following the first public election in 29 years. He was mayor of Maceió (1979–81) and federal deputy (1982–85) and governor (1986–89) of the impoverished state of Alagôas in northeastern Brazil. In each case, he represented the right-wing Social Democratic party. His first years as president were dominated by radical—though unsuccessful—attempts to reduce inflation. In Oct., 1992, the lower house of congress voted overwhelmingly to suspend him after finding evidence of massive personal corruption. The case was sent to the senate for impeachment proceedings, during which he resigned (Dec. 29, 1992). He was succeeded by his vice president, Itamar Franco. Following censure by the senate, he was barred from holding office until 2001. In Dec., 1994, the Brazilian supreme court acquitted him of the corruption charges, but he remained barred from public office. Collor de Mello was elected to the Brazilian senate in 2006.

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Collor de Mello, Fernando (Affonso)

(born Aug. 12, 1949, Rio de Janeiro, Braz.) President of Brazil (1990–92). Born to wealth, he became governor of the small state of Alagoas in 1987. Promising to promote economic growth and combat corruption and inefficiency, he defeated the leftist Luiz Silva in 1989 to become Brazil's first popularly elected president in nearly 30 years. The country's economic decline, fueled by a staggering foreign debt and hyperinflation, failed to improve, and he resigned in 1992 as his trial for corruption was about to begin.