Brizola, Leonel de Moura

▪ 2005

      Brazilian politician (b. Jan. 22, 1922, Carazinho, Braz.—d. June 21, 2004, Rio de Janeiro, Braz.), was a left-wing leader who sparked a fiercely loyal following when he attempted to thwart the military coup that overthrew Pres. João Goulart in 1964; as a result, both men were exiled to Uruguay. At age 25 Brizola began his political career when he represented the Brazilian Labour Party in the state legislature. Seven years later he served as federal deputy in Congress, and at age 36 he became the youngest state governor in Brazilian history when he was elected to the office in Rio Grande do Sul. Soon after he returned from exile in 1979, Brizola founded the Democratic Labour Party and served as its president. Although his campaigns for the presidency in 1989 and 1994 were unsuccessful, Brizola was elected state governor of Rio de Janeiro twice (1982–86; 1990–94).

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