Direct now, was a movement of civil unrest that, in 1984, demanded direct presidential elections in Brazil.
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The movement brought together different elements of Brazilian society.
Participants came from a wide spectrum of political parties, unions, civic leaders, students and journalists. Among the politicians involved are Ulysses Guimarães, Tancredo Neves, André Franco Montoro, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Mário Covas, Teotônio Vilela, José Serra, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Eduardo Suplicy and Leonel Brizola, among others. In addition to politicians, the movement also included artists such as Milton Nascimento, Fernanda Montenegro, Gilberto Gil, Bruna Lombardi, Fafá de Belém and Chico Buarque de Holanda. Journalists such as Henfil, Osmar Santos and Eliel Ramos Maurício covered the meetings for the newspapers Diário de Sorocaba and Folha de Itapetininga. Sections of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as other religions, also supported the movement.
The first public protest for the Diretas took place in the emancipated city of Abreu e Lima, in Pernambuco, on March 31, 1983. Pernambuco state newspapers at the time organized members of the PMDB party in the city, which were followed by protests in the capital. state of Goiás, Goiânia, on June 15, 1983, as well as the Charles Miller Plaza, in front of Pacaembu Stadium, on November 27, 1983, in São Paul.
The movement's growth coincided with the worsening of an economic crisis (with annual inflation of 239% in 1983). This led to the mobilization of class entities and unions. The movement linked representatives from various political circles under the common cause of direct presidential elections. Many pro-status quo politicians, sensitive to their base, also formed a bloc of disagreement within “ARENA”, the pro-government party, when the PDS was founded.
The following year, the movement gained critical mass and was able to openly mobilize itself. On the anniversary of the city of São Paulo (January 25), the first large assembly of the direct election campaign for president was made possible thanks to André Franco Montoro, then governor of São Paulo, in Praça da Sé, a large square public. adjacent to the Cathedral of São Paulo (Cathedral da Sé).
By this time, the military regime had lost a lot of prestige with the majority of the population. Low-ranking members of the army, their salaries reduced due to inflation, began to express their displeasure to their superiors.
On April 16, just before the congressional vote that would allow direct elections for president, a final demonstration took place in São Paulo. Afraid that Praça da Sé was too small, Vale do Anhangabaú was chosen, where a crowd estimated at more than 1.5 million people attended, in what was the largest political demonstration ever seen in the Brazil.
During April 1984, then-President Figueiredo increased press censorship and promoted arrests and police violence. However, the Diretas Já amendment (known as the law of Dante de Oliveira, after its author) was voted on April 25, 1984. Despite 298 votes in favour, with 65 against, 112 pro-government deputies abstained, leaving the Chamber without a quorum. As a result, the account died.
Despite the project's failure, the movement proved to be a catalyst for various opposition forces and a voice for popular discontent. The redemocratization process ended with the return of civil power in 1985 and the approval of a new constitution in 1988, which required the first direct presidential elections in 1989. Brazil elected Fernando Collor de Mello, its first democratically elected president since 1961.
The stage of this revolt also had important presences such as actors and musicians Chico Buarque, Milton Nascimento and Fernanda Montenegro. This moment was important because it served as an incentive for other rallies in different regions of Brazil, always with large numbers of participants.
Outside the streets, participants were able to follow the congressmen's voting intention for Dante Oliveira's amendment. It was in February that a scoreboard was installed and the March to Brasília began, which was intended to follow the vote in the Federal District to generate more pressure.
However, it is important to point out that the act with the greatest concentration of supporters by the direct was in Rio de Janeiro, on April 10th. This act brought together, in six hours, one million people who heard the supporters of the resumption of direct voting in Candelária.
Although it was a defeat, the movement's articulators were able to see the power of the people and the number of people who were fighting for the cause. What helped to later contribute to the end of the military regime. Based on the articulation of governors in the Northeast region, it was at this time that Tancredo Neves was nominated as possible president. This generated an internal dispute against the São Paulo candidate, Paulo Maluf.
The indirect election of Tancredo Neves from Minas Gerais took place in 1985, which marks the end of the military dictatorship that began in 1964. However, Tancredo never took over, as he died before taking office. Which led to José Sarney ruling in his place.
With the end of Sarney's government, new presidential elections took place in 1989. This election had as its main highlight the victory of Fernando Collor de Mello. And this president's government was marked by a series of corruption scandals, which made Brazil mobilized once again and public events filled the streets with a movement that was named after guys painted.
It is since the Diretas Já movement that the Brazilian people understand and know how powerful their presence on the streets can be as a method of negotiating with the government. And it is from there until today that we can mention several important acts that were decisive for the policy national, which continues to reaffirm the strength of Brazilians before their rulers, even at risk in some situations.
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See too: Kepler's Laws.
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