Fernando Collor de Mello

Fernando Collor de Mello, born on August 12, 1949, is a prominent Brazilian politician and writer who made history as the 32nd president of Brazil from 1990 to 1992. He was the first president to be democratically elected following the end of the Brazilian military dictatorship and, at the age of 40, became the youngest individual to assume the presidency in the nation's history. His administration was marked by ambitious economic reforms, including the controversial 'Collor Plan', which aimed to privatize state-owned enterprises and open the market to imports.

Despite initial popularity, the 'Collor Plan' led to significant economic challenges, including the loss of over nine hundred twenty thousand jobs and rising allegations of corruption. These issues culminated in an impeachment process initiated by the Brazilian Senate, which continued even after Collor's resignation on December 29, 1992. He was subsequently found guilty of crimes of responsibility, resulting in an eight-year disqualification from holding elected office.

Born into a politically influential family, Collor's lineage includes his father, former Senator Arnon Affonso de Farias Mello, and his maternal grandfather, Lindolfo Collor, a former Labour Minister. His presidency also saw the signing of the Treaty of Asunción in 1991, which established the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), and he played a significant role in the 'Earth Summit' at ECO-92, as well as the demarcation of the Yanomami Indigenous Territory.

After a period away from the political spotlight, Collor returned to public service as a Senator for Alagoas from February 2007 until February 2023, having been elected in 2006 and reelected in 2014. However, his later years were marred by accusations of corruption, including allegations of receiving approximately nine million US dollars in bribes from a Petrobras subsidiary. In April 2025, he faced immediate arrest ordered by the Supreme Court, marking another chapter in his tumultuous political career.