Diretas Já

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"Diretas Já" ("Direct [vote] Now") was a civil movement which, in 1984, demanded direct presidential elections in Brazil. It brought together diverse elements of Brazilian society. Participants came from a broad spectrum of political parties, trade unions, civilian, students and journalistic leaderships. Politicians involved included Ulysses Guimarães, Tancredo Neves, André Franco Montoro, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Mário Covas, José Serra, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Eduardo Suplicy, Leonel Brizola, among others.

Besides the politicians, the movement also included artists such as Milton Nascimento, Fernanda Montenegro, Gilberto Gil, Bruna Lombardi, Fafá de Belém, Chico Buarque de Holanda. Journalists such as Henfil, Osmar Santos and Eliel Ramos Maurício covered the assemblies for periodicals Diário de Sorocaba and Folha de Itapetininga.

Sectors of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as other religions, also supported the movement.

"Diretas" demonstrantion in São Paulo, April 16th 1984

The first public protest for the "Diretas" occurred in the emancipated city of "Abreu e Lima", in Pernambuco, on 31 March 1983. Periodicals of the State of Pernambuco, at the time, organized for members of the "PMDB" in the city, followed by protests in the Goiânia-GO capital in 15 of June of 1983 and later also in Charles Miller Plaza, in front of Pacaembu Stadium, on November 27,1983 in São Paulo. The growth of the movement coincided with the aggravation of an economic crisis. High inflation and a tax increase of 239% meant 1983 ended with a severe economic contraction. This led to the mobilization of classroom entities and unions. The movement linked representatives from diverse political backgrounds under the common cause of direct elections for president. Many politicians of the situation, sensitive to its base, had also formed a block of disagreement in the "ARENA", the situacionists party.

In the following year, the movement gained critical mass and was able to mobilize itself openly. On the anniversary of the city of São Paulo (25 of January), the first great assembly of the campaign for direct elections for president was made possible by Franco Montoro , then São Paulo governor, in Sé Plaza.

By this time, to the population at large, the Military Regime had lost a great deal of prestige. Low ranking members of the military, with their wages diminished due to inflation, started to pressure their commanders.

On April 16, shortly before the voting of the direct ones, a last assembly took place in São Paulo. Only this time Sé Plaza seemed small very. The Valley of Anhangabaú was chosen then, that received a multitude in excess of 1.5 million people. It was the biggest street manifestation ever seen in the country.

During the month of April of 1984, then president Figueiredo promoted the known "Pacote de Abril" (Package of April), increasing the censorship on the press and promoting arrests and police violence. Nonetheless, the Diretas ja amendment (known as Dante de Oliveira law, after its author) was defeated in the House of representatives in 25 of April of 1984. The consensus is, however, that the movement for the direct elections had great importance in the re-democratization of the country. Its leaderships had started to form the new elite in Brazilian politics. The process ended with the direct elections for President in 1989.

[edit] Assemblies

It had great assemblies and walks, for the country:

Abreu e Lima, Pernambuco, 31 March 1983, for being first public act, not augmented of people;
Goiânia, 15 June 1983, 5 thousand people;
Teresina, 26 June;
Pernambuco, 12 August;
São Paulo, 27 November, 15 thousand people, the senator Teotônio Vilela spoke at this assembly;
Ponta Grossa, 9 December, one thousand people;
Olinda, 5 January 1984;
Curitiba, 12 January, 40 thousand people;
Salvador. 20 January, 15 thousand people;
Vitória, 21 January, 10 thousand people;
Campinas, 21 January, 12 thousand people;
Sé Plaza, São Paulo, 25 January, 300 thousand people;
João Pessoa, 26 of January, 10 thousand people;
Olinda, 27 of January, 30 thousand people;
Pajuçara's Beach, Maceió, 29 of January, 20 thousand people;
Belém, 16 of February, 60 thousand people;
Walk on Rio de Janeiro, from Candelária to Cinelândia, 16 of February, with 60 thousand people;
Walk on Recife, 17 of February, with 12 thousand people;
Manaus, 18 of February, 6 thousand people;
Walk in Capão da Canoa, Rio Grande do Sul, 19 of February, 50 thousand people;
Osasco, São Paulo, 19 of February, 25 thousand people;
Rio Branco, 19 of February, 7 thousand people;
Cuiabá, 20 of February, 15 thousand people;
Belo Horizonte, 24 of February, 300 thousand people;
São Paulo, 26 of February, protests in 300 cities;
Aracaju, 26 of February, 30 thousand people;
Juiz de Fora, 29 of February, 30 thousand people;
Anápolis, 8 of March, 20 thousand people;
Walk on Rio de Janeiro, from Candelária to Cinelândia, 21 March, with 200 thousand people;
Campinas, concert (no speeches), 20 mil people;
Uberlândia, 23 of March, 40 thousand people;
Campo Grande, 24 of March, 40 thousand people;
Londrina, 02 of April, 50 thousand people;
Natal, 06 of April, 50 thousand people;
Petrolina, 07 of April, 30 thousand people;
Church of Candelária, Rio de Janeiro, 10 April, 1 million people;
Goiânia, 12 April, 300 thousand people;
Porto Alegre, 13 April, 200 thousand people;
Valley of Anhagabaú, São Paulo, 16 April, 1.5 million people;