Victor Joao (1968-) was President of Brazil from 2023 to 2024, succeeding Gabriel Jurado and preceding Brenda Gandara.
Biography[]
Victor Joao was born in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil in 1968, and he was active in the trade union movement before entering politics as a PT member. Joao was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 2000, and he soon rose to the party leadership. Joao was elected President of Brazil in 2023 when he received 56.3% of the vote to Brazilian Labor Party leader Mariana Ribeiro's 43.8%, and he then assumed office, taking over from PMDB leader Gabriel Jurado.
Presidency[]
Joao's presidency saw the Chamber abolish road maintenance and the alcohol tax in close votes, and then vote 30-2 to abolish presidential term limits. The Chamber then voted 30-5 to abolish the air pollution monitor, 22-13 to abolish the bus transport service, abolished the death penalty in a 16-14 vote, abolished national parks in a 19-11 vote, approved a bank tax in 20-11, abolished the pollution tax with 18-15, abolished bank secrecy in an 18-12 vote, and approved free museums in a 17-16 vote. In the ensuing general election, the PTB dropped to 19.74% and 8 seats, the PT dropped to 18.21% and 7 seats, the PP rose to 17.88% and 7 seats, the PSDB rose to 17.76% and 7 seats, the PMDB dropped to 16.44% and 7 seats, and the PDT dropped to 9.97% and 4 seats. The ensuing presidential election saw PT leader Brenda Gandara return to office with 57.4% of the vote, while Mariana Ribeiro lost with 42.6%.