1966 Brazilian presidential election

Indirect presidential elections were held in Brazil on 3 October 1966 through an electoral college system. It was the second election during the Brazilian military government, with Artur da Costa e Silva as the sole candidate. Costa e Silva was elected with 295 votes from the ruling National Renewal Alliance Party (ARENA).[1]

1966 Brazilian presidential election

← 1964 3 October 1966 1969 →

471 members of the electoral college
236 electoral votes needed to win
 
Candidate Artur da Costa e Silva
Party ARENA
Running mate Pedro Aleixo
Electoral vote 294
Percentage 100%

President before election

Castelo Branco
ARENA

Elected President

Artur da Costa e Silva
ARENA

Background

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Presidential elections had been scheduled for 3 October 1965. However, nine days after the Congress declared vacancy of the Presidency, the Castelo Branco government published on 27 October 1965 Institutional Act no. 2 which, among its attributions, defined that the next President would be chosen by the National Congress and with a maximum of two candidates. Therefore, Castelo Branco, who was supposed to govern temporarily until 31 January 1966, extended his term until 15 March 1967, when the new president would replace him.

There had been five pre-candidacies for the election scheduled for 1964: former president Juscelino Kubitschek with slogan "JK-65, the time of agriculture" (Portuguese: JK-65, a vez da agricultura), governor of Guanabara Carlos Lacerda, former governor of Rio Grande do Sul Leonel Brizola, former president Jânio Quadros and then-governor of Pernambuco Miguel Arraes.[2] All candidacies were aborted and the election never occurred.[3]

Following various cessations of political rights, politicians including Kubitschek, Lacerda, Quadros and Adhemar de Barros were proscribed after allegations of conspiracy and corruption. Once again, the National Congress of Brazil elected the president. The vice-presidential candidacy was linked with the candidacy of the presidency. Only two political parties were legal at the time. However, the opposition party did not put forward a candidate.[4]

Results

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CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Artur da Costa e SilvaPedro AleixoNational Renewal Alliance294100.00
Total294100.00
Total votes294
Registered voters/turnout47162.42

References

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  1. ^ "Costa e Silva já está eleito" [Costa e Silva already elected]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). São Paulo. Folha. 4 October 1966. p. 1.
  2. ^ "Miguel Arraes de Alencar (1916–2005)". Prefeitura de Recife (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  3. ^ "JK é, ainda hoje, um dos políticos mais admirados pela população". Senado Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Aliança Renovadora Nacional (ARENA) – História do Brasil".