José Sarney

Sarney became Brazil's acting president in March 1985 when president-elect Tancredo Neves fell ill, then succeeded him after his death in April. The transfer ended the succession of military presidents, but it came through an electoral college rather than a direct presidential vote. Sarney himself had crossed from the regime's political camp into the opposition alliance. His place in the transition shows the importance of negotiated defections and constitutional succession, while complicating any story of an entirely new political class taking over.