Janio Quadros

Jânio Quadros was elected president of Brazil in 1960 as the candidate of the National Democratic Union (UDN) and the Christian Democratic Party (PDC). He assumed office on January 31, 1961, with a mandate to combat corruption and inflation.

Quadros launched a campaign against corruption and bureaucracy, including banning the use of official cars for personal purposes and reducing government spending. These measures were popular but faced resistance from political elites.

Quadros resigned from the presidency on August 25, 1961, after only seven months in office. He claimed he was forced out by 'occult forces' and hoped to return with greater powers, but his resignation was accepted by Congress, leading to a political crisis.

Quadros awarded the Order of the Southern Cross, Brazil's highest honor, to Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara in August 1961. This act angered conservative sectors and the military, contributing to the political tensions that led to his resignation.