João Goulart, President of the Federal Republic of Brazil, declared Distinguished Citizen of Mercosur – Brasilia, July 17, 2015

Considering the importance of his political career as labor leader, Member of Parliament, Minister of Labor, Vice President, and, finally, Constitutional President, deposed by the coup d’état of March 31, 1964, which resulted in the interruption of the democratic order in Brazil for more than two decades.

Emphasizing his political courage, reflected in the defense of workers’ rights, in the continuation of the Independent Foreign Policy, and in the so-called “Basic Reforms” (agrarian, banking, administrative, fiscal, electoral and urban), and in his conciliatory stance, which allowed the adoption of the parliamentary system in 1961 in order to avoid conflicts on the occasion of his assumption to the Presidency.

Highlighting the need for Memory and Truth to be preserved, so that Justice may flourish in our societies, in order to avoid the repetition of the events that trampled democratic institutions and human rights, destroying thousands of lives and tarnishing our history.

THE MEMBER STATES AND ASSOCIATE STATES OF MERCOSUR HEREBY DECLARE

“Distinguished Citizen of Mercosur, Post Mortem: The President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mr. João Goulart.”

Brasília, July 17, 2015.