Inauguration of Juscelino Kubitschek

Inauguration of Juscelino Kubitschek
Juscelino Kubitschek and João Goulart during the inauguration ceremony
DateJanuary 31, 1956 (1956-01-31)
VenueTiradentes Palace (session) and Catete Palace (handover and speech)
LocationRio de Janeiro, Brazil
Also known asPosse de Juscelino Kubitschek
TypeInauguration ceremony / Presidential transition
ParticipantsJuscelino Kubitschek (21st President of Brazil, assumed office)
João Goulart (14th Vice President of Brazil, assumed office)
José Antônio Flores da Cunha (presided over the session as President of the Chamber of Deputies)
OutcomePeaceful assumption of power by JK after the 1955 election, secured following the Preventative Coup of November 11, 1955; last presidential inauguration held in Rio de Janeiro

Juscelino Kubitschek and João Goulart took office as the 21st president of Brazil and the 14th vice president of Brazil, respectively, on January 31, 1956, in a ceremony held at the National Congress in Rio de Janeiro, then the capital of Brazil.[1]

Juscelino's inauguration was the last to be held in Rio de Janeiro, as Brasília was inaugurated in 1960 and the following year was the venue for the inauguration of his successor, Jânio Quadros.[2]

Background

In a turbulent scenario, Juscelino Kubitschek assumed the presidency, with his opponents from the National Democratic Union (UDN), supported by Vice President Café Filho, seeking to remain in power. However, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Brazilian Labour Party (PTB) alliance thwarted the UDN's ambitions, with Kubitschek being elected in October 1955 with 36% of the votes and João Goulart winning the vice presidency.[1]

Faced with this duo, the UDN, led by Congressman Carlos Lacerda, sought to challenge the election results, arguing that Juscelino had not been chosen by the majority of the electorate.[3] As agreed in the Brazilian Constitution of 1946, however, this was not an electoral requirement, so an election only required one round.[4]

In addition to Udenist politicians, the coup movement to prevent JK from taking office had the support of the conservative wing of the Army and interim president Carlos Luz, who had taken office after Café Filho stepped down for health reasons. The inauguration of Juscelino and João Goulart was only secured thanks to General Teixeira Lott's so-called Preventive Coup on November 11.[5][6][7]

Ceremony

With tight security measures in place from Flamengo Park to the Tiradentes Palace, then seat of the Chamber of Deputies[8], the ceremony began at 3:15 p.m. and was presided over by the president of the chamber.[9] The presidency of the Senate was vacant, with Juscelino and João Goulart taking the oath of office and signing the Book of Inauguration.[10]

Then, both went in an open car to the Catete Palace for then-President Nereu Ramos to hand over the office, when Ramos gave a speech saying that JK was taking over the country “at a time of great change and low expectations for the entire nation,” and then Juscelino gave his speech.

Speech

Excerpt from JK's speech:[11]

Receiving from your hands, Mr. Chief Justice of the Superior Electoral Court, the diplomas of President and Vice President of the Republic, we experience a feeling of both joy and terrible responsibility. The joy comes from the peaceful and legal resolution of the Brazilian crisis; as for the fearful responsibility, we are all aware of the countless problems that those who will govern this country must face.

After the ministers took office, JK waved to the people from the palace balcony.[12][13]

Demonstrations

During the inauguration, demonstrators from the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) calling for the party to be legalized again and for the end of martial law were arrested.[14] There were also demonstrations by Queremistas, who supported Juscelino, but these were mainly in favor of Getúlio Vargas, including prayers around the statue of the former president.[15]

International reactions

References

  1. ^ a b "Juscelino Kubitschek". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  2. ^ "Jânio da Silva Quadros". Brazilian National Archives (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  3. ^ Nassif, Luis (November 18, 2022). "O Contra-Golpe de 11 de novembro". Jornal GGN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 19, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ^ "Constituição de 46". Palácio do Planalto. Archived from the original on February 9, 2026. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  5. ^ Westin, Ricardo (November 6, 2015). "Há 60 anos, crise fez Brasil ter 3 presidentes numa única semana". Agência Senado (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  6. ^ Carneiro, Paulo (November 10, 2015). "Lott, o general que garantiu a posse do presidente eleito JK e do vice Jango". O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on May 24, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  7. ^ Rodrigues, Beatriz (November 13, 2025). "O marechal que há 70 anos evitou um golpe de Estado". Le Monde Diplomatique (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on February 19, 2026. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  8. ^ Coppi, Milena (December 17, 2016). "Palácio Tiradentes é palco da posse de presidentes, de Washington Luís a JK". O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on October 27, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  9. ^ "O Estado de S. Paulo - Acervo Estadão". Acervo. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
  10. ^ "Galeria mostra assinaturas de presidentes no Termo de Posse desde 1889". Senado Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). January 1, 2025. Archived from the original on January 13, 2026. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  11. ^ "Discurso de posse - Juscelino". Biblioteca da Presidência. Archived from the original on May 5, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  12. ^ "Juraram respeitar a constituição os srs. Kubistchek e João Goulart". Diario de Noticias. 26 (10197): 1. February 1, 1956.
  13. ^ "O Sr. Juscelino na sacada". Diário de Notícias. 26 (10197): 1.
  14. ^ Silva, Lucas (March 15, 2024). "Comício da Central, 60 anos". Brazilian Communist Party (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on December 15, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  15. ^ Belém, Euler de França (July 18, 2021). "Juscelino Kubitschek foi eleito mas só tomou posse devido a um contragolpe militar". Jornal Opção (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on November 17, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  16. ^ "O Brasil possui grande e imediato destino a cumprir". Jornal do Brasil. 65 (30): 8. February 5, 1956.
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