Word: branco
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After the 1964 revolution that installed him in power, Brazilian President Humberto Castello Branco ruled the country with a pragmatic blend of democracy and dictatorial decrees. As time went on, the element of democracy became smaller and smaller. Last week, what little remained was at least temporarily shelved. In his "Complementary Act 23," Castello Branco closed Congress until Nov. 22, seven days after the upcoming congressional elections...
...Many. Thus ended a long, sometimes bitter tug-of-war that began 31 months ago, when Castello Branco declared war on corruption, graft and "anti-revolutionaries." Too often for congressional comfort, that label came to include legislators themselves, who found their mandates canceled. Not until last year did Congress finally stand up to the President; in a rare show of unity, it refused to vote Castello Branco sweeping new powers-including the right to close down Congress. So Castello Branco simply put the rules into effect by decree, and for good measure dissolved Brazil's 13 political parties...
...ARENA leader, registered his hot protest. "Only after consulting the directors of the House and the vote of the majority of the Deputies," Cardoso announced, "will I feel authorized to declare the extinction of the mandates." Congressional leaders promptly summoned Deputies back to Brasilia for a vote. Angrily, Castello Branco in effect ordered ARENA members to stay just where they were. "The cancellations are made and cannot be discussed by any power," he snapped emphatically. "They are being carried...
They knew what was coming. Back in Rio's Laranjeiras Palace, Castello Branco was already making plans to override their veto. After a round of talks with his generals, he decreed Congress closed and ordered troops into Brasilia. By the hundreds, they swarmed into the capital's radio stations and newspaper plants, cut off telephone and cable circuits to the rest of the country, raised a wall of bayonets around the airport and the sleekly modern saucers of steel and glass that house Congress. The Deputies saw the futility of fighting on, and quietly cleared...
Incredible Four. Costa e Silva will be elected this week and take office in March. But whether he can bring peace to the Brazilian family is another question. Opposition elements are already beginning to unite against any form of military rule, whether by Castello Branco or Costa e Silva. Even the deadliest of enemies are talking of joining forces in something called the Frente Ampla (Broad Front) to bring the soldiers down...