João Figueiredo

João Figueiredo was a Brazilian army general and president from 1979 to 1985, the final ruler of Brazil’s military dictatorship.

Brazilian transition to democracy: Brazil’s gradual shift from military rule to civilian democracy during the late 1970s and 1980s. Figueiredo oversaw the final stage of the transition that ended his presidency.
Brazilian Amnesty Law of 1979: A Brazilian law granting amnesty for political crimes committed between 1961 and 1979. Figueiredo signed the law, which enabled exiles to return while protecting state agents from prosecution.
Ernesto Geisel: A Brazilian army general who served as president from 1974 to 1979 and initiated political liberalization. Geisel selected Figueiredo as his successor and began the opening Figueiredo continued.
Riocentro bombing: A 1981 bombing attempt at a concert in Rio de Janeiro, involving members of the Brazilian military. The attack exposed resistance within the security apparatus to Figueiredo’s political opening.
Diretas Já: A mass Brazilian campaign in 1983–1984 demanding direct presidential elections. The campaign intensified pressure on Figueiredo’s government to restore direct elections.
Abertura: The gradual political liberalization initiated by Brazil’s military government in the late 1970s. Figueiredo continued this controlled opening while preserving limits on political change.
Golbery do Couto e Silva: A Brazilian general and political strategist who helped shape the military regime’s gradual liberalization. He advised Figueiredo and influenced the government’s controlled political opening.
Brazilian general election of 1982: Brazil’s 1982 elections for state governments, Congress, and local offices during the military transition. Opposition victories demonstrated growing electoral competition under Figueiredo.
Tancredo Neves: A Brazilian politician elected president indirectly in 1985, but who died before taking office. His election marked the transfer away from military presidents at the end of Figueiredo’s term.
Brazilian National Security Law: Brazilian legislation that defined offenses against national security and enabled political repression. The government retained coercive legal tools even as it liberalized political life.

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Emílio Garrastazu MédiciCompared with: His government oversaw the final phase of military rule that followed Médici’s presidency.