14 Facts About Carlos Lacerda

Carlos Frederico Werneck de Lacerda was a Brazilian journalist and politician.

Carlos Lacerda was the son of the politician, tribune and writer Mauricio de Lacerda and Olga Caminhoa Werneck, being the paternal grandson of Sebastiao Lacerda, Minister of the Supreme Federal Court and Minister of Transport in the government of Prudente de Morais.

When he was a law student, Carlos Lacerda became sympathetic to left-wing ideas, but by the 1940s, he had transformed into a staunch anticommunist and conservative.

Carlos Lacerda started his journalism career at Diario de Noticias in 1929.

Carlos Lacerda became well known for his uncompromising opposition of the government of President Getulio Vargas and even demanded the overthrow of Vargas.

Carlos Lacerda survived an assassination attempt in the Rua Tonelero shooting in August 1954.

Brazilian Air Force Major Rubens Vaz was killed in the attempt, and Carlos Lacerda was slightly injured.

Carlos Lacerda was re-elected to the Chamber of Deputies later in 1954, with more votes than any other candidate.

Carlos Lacerda was elected governor of Guanabara State, comprising Rio, in 1960.

Carlos Lacerda's administration was praised by the US government and the IMF for his efforts to solve some chronic problems of Rio such as water services, public transportation and housing.

Since the military was not willing to give up power, the 1965 elections were cancelled, and Carlos Lacerda definitely fell from the military's favor.

In 1968, his efforts to restore democracy in Brazil made him ally with his old enemies, Kubitschek and Goulart, and Carlos Lacerda was arrested for a brief period and stripped of his right to run for political office for ten years.

Carlos Lacerda was portrayed by Alexandre Borges in the 2014 biographical drama film Getulio.

Carlos Lacerda is mentioned in the book, "Child of the Dark", The Diary of Carolina Maria de Jesus.