Sarney

José Ribamar Ferreira Sarney, commonly known as José Sarney, is a Brazilian politician who played a central role in the country’s transition from military rule to civilian government. Born in 1930 in Pinheiro, Maranhão, he rose through state politics and became a prominent national figure as a founder of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB). He served as President of Brazil from 1985 to 1990, assuming office after the illness and death of Tancredo Neves during the transition to democracy. During his presidency, Brazil completed the transition to civilian government and laid groundwork for the 1988 Constitution.

Sarney remained a long‑standing member of the Brazilian Senate, representing Maranhão, and he continued to influence national politics through the PMDB. He is part of a politically influential family in Maranhão; his daughter Roseana Sarney has served as governor of Maranhão, illustrating the enduring prominence of the Sarney name in regional politics.

Overall, Sarney’s career spans several decades and includes leadership roles inside the PMDB and significant involvement in Brazil’s late‑20th‑century political transformation. His presidency is often noted for guiding the transition to civilian rule and for the events surrounding the drafting and enactment of the 1988 Constitution.