Antônio Carlos Magalhães
Encyclopedia
Antônio Carlos Peixoto de Magalhães (September 4, 1927 – July 20, 2007) was a Brazil
ian politician. His paternal grandparents were Portuguese . He served as Governor
of Bahia
three times and represented Bahia in the Senate of Brazil
three times.
Magalhães was one of Brazil's most powerful politicians serving as a Minister for Communications, as Leader of the Liberal Front Party and as President of the Senate
.
, and went to medical school. However, his political career started at the age of 27 when he entered the Bahia state legislature. He was soon elected to the federal Chamber of Deputies
where he served three terms. At first, he was a protege of Juscelino Kubitschek who was then the President of Brazil
.
. They appointed him as the Mayor of Salvador and then as the Governor of Bahia twice. He also served as the head of the government's electricity agency which enabled him to dispense patronage nationally. Magalhães was also known for his harsh treatment of opponents of the regime as well as his ability to make deals which led to some of his opponents dubbing him "Toninho Malvaldeza" (Tony Evil).
In 1985, he switched allegiance to José Sarney
helping him to form the Liberal Front Party. Magalhães became the Minister for Communications in Sarney's Government allowing him to grant radio
and television
licenses to friends and supporters. When accused of corruption, he once said "I have good and bad friends, but I only govern with the good ones."
In 1991, he was elected as Governor of Bahia for the third time before being elected to the Senate in 1994. He became the President of the Senate in 1997.
Magalhães also became the leader of the Liberal Front Party with the Social Democrat President of Brazil Fernando Henrique Cardoso
relying on his support to pass legislation. This enabled Magalhães to have supporters placed in influential positions in the Government. When Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
of the left wing Workers Party was elected President, Magalhães claimed that he came from "the Workers’ Party wing of the Liberal Front Party" and was successful in having supporters appointed in Silva's administration. In January 2003, then Senator-elect Magalhães (PFL-BA) (Liberal Front Party-Bahia) shook hands with Fidel Castro
as Castro was leaving a luncheon given in Brasilia in Castro's honor. Later, on Castro's way to and from state visits to Africa, Castro would stop in Salvador da Bahia and spend a couple of days sharing stories with Magalhães. Through this, right-winged
Magalhães and communist Fidel Castro
developed a friendship to the dismay of Castro's left-wing admirers in Brazil.
Magalhães was forced to resign from the Senate in 2001 after being accused of looking at how fellow Senators voted on an impeachment issue. He was re-elected in 2002 and he continued to play an influential role in Brazilian politics until his death in 2007 from multiple organ failure.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian politician. His paternal grandparents were Portuguese . He served as Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
three times and represented Bahia in the Senate of Brazil
Senate of Brazil
The Federal Senate of Brazil is the upper house of the National Congress of Brazil. Created by the first Constitution of the Brazilian Empire in 1824, it was inspired by the United Kingdom's House of Lords, but with the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889 it became closer to the United States...
three times.
Magalhães was one of Brazil's most powerful politicians serving as a Minister for Communications, as Leader of the Liberal Front Party and as President of the Senate
President of the Senate
The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...
.
Early life and career
Magalhães was born in 1927 in Salvador, BahiaSalvador, Bahia
Salvador is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The first...
, and went to medical school. However, his political career started at the age of 27 when he entered the Bahia state legislature. He was soon elected to the federal Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Brazil
The Chamber of Deputies of Brazil is a federal legislative body and the lower house of the National Congress of Brazil. As of 2006, the chamber comprises 513 deputies, who are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms...
where he served three terms. At first, he was a protege of Juscelino Kubitschek who was then the President of Brazil
President of Brazil
The president of Brazil is both the head of state and head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces...
.
Political power broker
Magalhães supported the military coup that overthrew President João GoulartJoão Goulart
João Belchior Marques Goulart was a Brazilian politician and the 24th President of Brazil until a military coup d'état deposed him on April 1, 1964. He is considered to have been the last left-wing President of the country until Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2003.-Name:João Goulart is...
. They appointed him as the Mayor of Salvador and then as the Governor of Bahia twice. He also served as the head of the government's electricity agency which enabled him to dispense patronage nationally. Magalhães was also known for his harsh treatment of opponents of the regime as well as his ability to make deals which led to some of his opponents dubbing him "Toninho Malvaldeza" (Tony Evil).
In 1985, he switched allegiance to José Sarney
José Sarney
José Sarney de Araújo Costa is a Brazilian lawyer, writer and politician. He served as president of Brazil from 15 March 1985 to 15 March 1990....
helping him to form the Liberal Front Party. Magalhães became the Minister for Communications in Sarney's Government allowing him to grant radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
licenses to friends and supporters. When accused of corruption, he once said "I have good and bad friends, but I only govern with the good ones."
In 1991, he was elected as Governor of Bahia for the third time before being elected to the Senate in 1994. He became the President of the Senate in 1997.
Magalhães also became the leader of the Liberal Front Party with the Social Democrat President of Brazil Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Fernando Henrique Cardoso – also known by his initials FHC – was the 34th President of the Federative Republic of Brazil for two terms from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2002. He is an accomplished sociologist, professor and politician...
relying on his support to pass legislation. This enabled Magalhães to have supporters placed in influential positions in the Government. When Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
of the left wing Workers Party was elected President, Magalhães claimed that he came from "the Workers’ Party wing of the Liberal Front Party" and was successful in having supporters appointed in Silva's administration. In January 2003, then Senator-elect Magalhães (PFL-BA) (Liberal Front Party-Bahia) shook hands with Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
as Castro was leaving a luncheon given in Brasilia in Castro's honor. Later, on Castro's way to and from state visits to Africa, Castro would stop in Salvador da Bahia and spend a couple of days sharing stories with Magalhães. Through this, right-winged
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
Magalhães and communist Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
developed a friendship to the dismay of Castro's left-wing admirers in Brazil.
Magalhães was forced to resign from the Senate in 2001 after being accused of looking at how fellow Senators voted on an impeachment issue. He was re-elected in 2002 and he continued to play an influential role in Brazilian politics until his death in 2007 from multiple organ failure.