Vargas (English spelling) Getúlio Dornelles Vargas

A politician who built the foundations of modern Brazil. Born to a farmer in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. After studying law at the University of Porto Alegre, he entered politics and served as state and federal legislator, federal finance minister, and governor of his home state. He ran for president in 1930 but lost, but in October of the same year he was supported by reformist military officers and seized power in a coup. In 1934 he promulgated a new, centralized constitution, under which he became the official president, and from 1935 to 1936 he severely suppressed the Communist Party and leftists, eliminating his political opponents.

In 1937, against a backdrop of political turmoil, he used military force to establish a dictatorial regime with strong fascist overtones called the New State (Estado Novo), under which he aimed to raise national spirit and unify the nation, while also promoting policies of industrialization and protection of the working class, and seeking to harmonize the interests of the traditional landlord class, the emerging industrial capitalist class, and the working class. In World War II, he participated in the war on the side of the Allies, sending troops to the Italian front. In 1945, he resigned as president under pressure from the military, but was re-elected as president in the 1950 election. However, having lost the support of public opinion and the military, he committed suicide in August 1954, ending his life in a dramatic way.

[Yuzo Kamo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

現代ブラジルの基礎を築いた政治家。南部のリオ・グランデ・ド・スール州の農場主の子に生まれる。ポルト・アレグレ大学で法律を学んだのち政界に入り、州や連邦の議員、連邦政府の蔵相、出身州の知事を歴任。1930年の大統領選挙に出馬し敗北したが、同年10月、軍部の革新派将校に担がれてクーデターによって政権を掌握した。1934年に中央集権的な新憲法を公布し、そのもとで正式の大統領となり、1935年から1936年にかけて共産党や左翼を厳しく弾圧して政敵を排除した。

　1937年には政情混乱を背景に軍事力を用いて新国家（エスタード・ノボ）とよばれるファシズム的色彩の濃い独裁政権体制を樹立し、そのもとで民族精神を高揚させて国民的統合を目ざすとともに、工業化と労働者階級保護の政策を進めて、伝統的地主階級と新興産業資本家層、および労働者階級の利益の調和を図った。第二次世界大戦では連合国の側にたって参戦し、イタリア戦線に派兵した。1945年に軍部の圧力で大統領を辞任したが、1950年の選挙でふたたび大統領に就任した。しかし、世論や軍部の支持を失って1954年8月自殺を遂げ、劇的な形で生涯の幕を閉じた。

［加茂雄三］

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