New President For Brazil

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32120, 16 October 1969, Page 13

New President For Brazil

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

RIO DE JANEIRO, October 15. General Emilio Garrastazu Medici is now set to take over as new Brazilian President from the ailing Marshal Costa e Silva, partly paralysed by a stroke more than a month ago.

The country’s three-man ruling junta paved the way to his appointment last night when it declared Marshal Costa e Silva no longer President.

The three Armed Forces Ministers said in an official decree that the presidency and vice-presidency—the latter held by a civilian, Mr Pedro Aleixo—were vacant. The two posts would be filled by a vote of the Brazil-' ian Congress later this month. There were only two candidates—General G. Medici for President, and the Navy Minister (Admiral Augusto Rademaker Grunewald) for VicePresident.

The junta said that i would continue its rule by decree until the new President takes over on October 30 for a fouryear term.

General Medici, the 63-year-old Third Army commander, has pledged to continue Marshal Costa e Silva’s programme for a return to full democracy in Brazil.

He said that Congress, which was suspended in De. cember as part of Marshal Costa e Silva's purge on alleged subversion, would be reopened after authorised political parties were reorganised.

The junta also assumed powers yesterday to suspend military officers found to be disrupting unity in the Armed Forces.

This second decree started immediate speculation that it was aimed at General Alfonso de Albuquerque Lima, a former Interior Minister, and a tough nationalist, vho was an unofficial candidate to succeed Marshal Costa e Silva with backing among younger officers.

It was felt that before Congress was convened there would be another purge of politicians and military officers.

The politicians would be deprived of their political rights for two years and join 88 deputies and six senators of the Congress who have already been purged. The sources said that the Army Minister, General Aurelio de Lira Tavare would be named Ambassador to West Germany shortly and the Labour Minister, Mr Jarbas Passarinho, would be given another Ministry. General Medici, who spent the week-end in southern Porto Allegre, conferred with the junta yesteday before the decrees were anounced. He was expected to hand over command of the Third Army on Monday.