Getulio Vargas

Dominated Brazilian politics from 1930 to 1954. He took power in 1930 after a disputed election, then in 1937 abolished the constitution and established the authoritarian Estado Novo (New State), which lasted until 1945; during the same years he enacted labour and social security laws, expanded education, enfranchised women and introduced the secret ballot. He returned as an elected president in 1951 and took his own life in 1954 rather than accept forced resignation. His record combines authoritarian rule with lasting social and labour reform, both recorded here as fact.