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Brazilians drive out corrupt President - 1992

Summary

In 1992, a broad coalition of Brazilian students, unions, opposition parties, and professional associations formed the Movement for Ethics in Politics (MEP) to demand the resignation of President Fernando Collor de Mello after corruption allegations emerged. Through massive street demonstrations, symbolic protests, and a petition for impeachment, the campaign pressured Congress to impeach Collor. He resigned on 29 December 1992, and the Senate subsequently found him guilty, banning him from political office for eight years. [source: nv-database]

Tactics used

Tactics used

  • unknown

Background

Fernando Collor de Mello became Brazil’s first elected president after 29 years of military rule in 1990, campaigning on anti-corruption and economic reform. His austerity measures created significant opposition, and in May 1992 his brother revealed an influence-peddling scheme run by his campaign treasurer, sparking investigations. [source: nv-database]

What happened

On 10 May 1992, Pedro Collor gave a magazine interview exposing his brother’s involvement in an influence-peddling scheme run by campaign treasurer P. [source: nv-database] C. [source: nv-database] Farias, triggering federal investigations [source: nv-database]. On 29 May, opposition groups formed the Movement for Ethics in Politics (MEP) to coordinate efforts [source: nv-database]. On 1 July, Congress formed a Joint Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry to investigate the charges [source: nv-database]. On 11 August, 10,000 people demonstrated in front of the Sao Paulo Art Museum, organized primarily by students taking a non-partisan stand for ethics and democracy [source: nv-database]. On 16 August, opponents of Collor wore black and painted their faces black in mourning, outnumbering his supporters [source: nv-database]. On 25 August, MEP called for nationwide demonstrations; 400,000 protested in Sao Paulo, 100,000 in Recife, and 80,000 in Salvador, with symbolic burials and chants of ‘fora Collor’ [source: nv-database]. On 26 August, 60,000 demonstrated as the inquiry report showed proof of illegal personal expenses [source: nv-database]. On 1 September, citizens presented a petition accusing Collor of ‘crimes of responsibility’ [source: nv-database]. On 19 September, 750,000 demonstrated despite rain, demanding impeachment [source: nv-database]. On 24 September, the Chamber of Deputies’ committee approved the impeachment petition, and on 29 September, the full Chamber voted 441 to 38 to impeach [source: nv-database]. The Senate began proceedings on 30 September and suspended Collor’s powers on 2 October, making Vice President Itamar Franco acting president [source: nv-database]. Collor resigned on 29 December 1992 while the trial was underway, but the Senate completed the trial and found him guilty on 30 December [source: nv-database].

Key people & organizations

  • Fernando Collor de Mello
  • Pedro Collor
  • P. C. Farias
  • Movement for Ethics in Politics (MEP)
  • UNE (university students)
  • CA XI (Law Students Association of Univ of Sao Paulo)
  • UBES (high school students)
  • OAB (bar association)
  • ABI (association of journalists)
  • PT (Workers Party)
  • PCdoB (Communist Party of Brazil)
  • PSDB (Party of Brazilian Social Democracy)
  • CUT (leftist labor union)
  • Forca Sindical (right-wing labor group)
  • Governor Fleury
  • Itamar Franco

Outcome

Verdict: won.

President Collor resigned and was found guilty of impeachable offenses, achieving the campaign’s specific goal. However, corruption as a problem was not completely eradicated, and Collor later returned to politics as a senator in 2006. [source: nv-database]

Lessons

  • A broad coalition spanning political and social groups can sustain pressure on a corrupt leader by focusing on a single, non-partisan demand.
  • Massive, visible street protests combined with institutional mechanisms (petitions, parliamentary inquiries) can force a constitutional removal process.
  • Symbolic actions (black clothing, face painting, mock funerals) can unify and amplify public sentiment against corruption.

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • nv-database — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-07-04 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

Last verified: 2026-07-09