Getúlio

Getúlio is a masculine given name of Portuguese origin. The most prominent bearer is Getúlio Dornelles Vargas (1882–1954), a Brazilian statesman who dominated national politics in the 1930s through the 1950s.

Vargas rose from a provincial politician in Rio Grande do Sul to national leadership after the 1930 revolution, which ended the Old Republic and began his rule. He centralized power, promoted industrialization, and implemented social reforms. In 1937 he dissolved Congress and established the Estado Novo, an authoritarian regime that lasted until 1945. During the Estado Novo, the government expanded state control of the economy and enacted labor legislation, notably the Consolidação das Leis do Trabalho (CLT) in 1943, which codified workers’ rights and social welfare programs.

After being forced from power in 1945, Vargas went into exile for a period before returning to Brazil and being elected president again in 1951. His second term continued his focus on labor rights and national development but faced increasing political opposition. In August 1954, amid a mounting crisis, Vargas died by suicide while in office in Rio de Janeiro, leaving a controversial legacy.

The term getulismo is sometimes used to describe his populist and corporatist approach to governance, characterized by state-led development and strong labor relations. Getúlio Vargas’s influence on Brazilian politics and social policy has made him a central figure in discussions of 20th-century Brazil, and the name Getúlio remains a common given name in Portuguese-speaking countries.

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