Fernando Henrique Cardoso turns 95 and is celebrated by authorities
Fernando Henrique Cardoso turned 95 this Thursday (18). An intellectual, internationally recognized sociologist and university professor, he is considered one of the most influential figures in Brazil's recent political history.
On social media, several public and political figures paid tribute to the birthday boy. Gilmar Mendes praised Fernando Henrique's economic legacy and called the Real Plan "the greatest social program ever carried out in Brazil". Geraldo Alckmin, who was a member of the PSDB for more than 30 years, described the anniversary as a celebration of public spirit.
A trajectory linked to the history of the New Republic
Fernando Henrique Cardoso left a brilliant academic career to enter public life during the military dictatorship. He was at the forefront of the country's redemocratization, took to the streets for Diretas Já and helped to create the 1988 Constituent Assembly agreements. He was also one of the founders of the PSDB, a party that helped shape the Brazilian political scene in the following decades.
It was in the 1990s, however, that his name definitely entered history. As responsible for the Finance department in the government of Itamar Franco, he commanded the team that created the Real Plan. The new currency brought down hyperinflation, restored Brazilian purchasing power and guaranteed unprecedented economic stability in the country.
Presidency marked by reforms and institutional legacy
With the success of the Plano Real, Fernando Henrique was elected president in 1994. He became the first re-elected president in the history of Brazil and the only one to win two elections in the first round. During his mandates, he committed to fiscal responsibility, privatized loss-making state-owned companies and created the country's first regulatory agencies to oversee services transferred to the private sector.
Fernando Henrique's government was also marked by the opening of the economy to the global market and the laying of the foundations for Brazil's first income transfer programs. In 2003, the presidential sash was handed over to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), in a transition that became a symbol of the maturity of Brazilian democracy. In 2022, he declared support for Lula in the presidential election, the year in which he retired from public life.
Currently, Fernando Henrique Cardoso lives privately, undergoing treatment for Alzheimer's disease. At 95 years old, he continues to be a political and intellectual reference in the Brazil he helped to build.
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Source: CNN