Getulio

Getúlio is a Brazilian Portuguese given name, commonly used in Brazil. It is the Portuguese form of the Germanic name Gottlieb, meaning “God’s beloved” or “beloved by God.” The name has been borne by several notable figures, most famously Getúlio Vargas, whose leadership deeply shaped Brazilian history.

Getúlio Dornelles Vargas (1882–1954) was a Brazilian statesman who led the country in two non-consecutive periods. He came to power after the 1930 revolution, headed the provisional government, and then ruled the Estado Novo authoritarian regime from 1937 to 1945. He again served as elected president from 1951 until his death by suicide on August 24, 1954. Vargas’ tenure spanned major political and economic changes in Brazil, and he remains one of the most influential figures in the country’s modern era.

Vargas pursued industrialization and state-led development. His administration enacted the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT) in 1943, expanding workers’ rights, social welfare programs, and centralized economic planning. He promoted import substitution and created state-led enterprises, including the national oil company Petrobras in 1953, as part of broader efforts to mobilize Brazilian resources and reduce dependence on foreign capital.

His legacy is debated: supporters credit him with modernization and the creation of a Brazilian welfare framework, while critics point to authoritarian practices and political coercion during his Estado Novo period. Vargas’ death in 1954 precipitated a political crisis and left a lasting imprint on Brazil’s political and economic development.