José Alencar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José Alencar
|
|
|---|---|
Alencar in 2007
|
|
| Vice President of Brazil | |
| In office 1 January 2003 – 31 December 2010 |
|
| President | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva |
| Preceded by | Marco Maciel |
| Succeeded by | Michel Temer |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 8 November 2004 – 31 March 2006 |
|
| President | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva |
| Preceded by | José Viegas Filho |
| Succeeded by | Waldir Pires |
| Senator for Minas Gerais | |
| In office 1 February 1999 – 31 December 2002 |
|
| Preceded by | Júnia Marise |
| Succeeded by | Aelton Freitas |
| Other offices held | |
| 1995–1998 | Vice President of the National Confederation of Industry |
| 1989–1995 | President of the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais |
| 1973–1973 | Director of the Commercial Association of Minas Gerais |
| 1965–1966 | Director of the Commercial Association of Ubá |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
José Alencar Gomes da Silva
17 October 1931 Muriaé, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Died | 29 March 2011 (aged 79) São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Political party |
|
| Spouse |
Mariza Gomes
(m. 1957) |
| Children | Maria da Graça Patrícia Josué |
| Residence | Jabiru's Palace (2003–2011) |
| Occupation |
|
José Alencar Gomes da Silva (born October 17, 1931 – died March 29, 2011) was a Brazilian businessman and politician. He served as the 23rd Vice President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010. Alencar started working at a young age. He became a very successful businessman, building a large textile company called Coteminas.
In the 1990s, Alencar decided to enter politics in his home state of Minas Gerais. He believed in policies that helped businesses, like making trade easier and reducing government rules. His political campaigns were often supported by his company. After trying to become governor in 1994, he was elected as a Senator for Minas Gerais in 1998.
In 2002, he joined forces with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a leader from the left-wing Workers' Party. This partnership between a businessman and a union leader was very successful. They won the election in 2002 and were re-elected in 2006. Lula and Alencar became close friends. Alencar was diagnosed with cancer in 1997 and bravely fought the disease until his death in 2011. He was known for his strong spirit and friendly personality.
Contents
Early Life and Business Success
José Alencar was born on October 17, 1931, in Muriaé, a town in the state of Minas Gerais. He was the eleventh child in his family. As a boy, he was a Boy Scout.
He began working when he was still a child. He left primary school early to help his father with the family business. For many years, he worked with his older brothers. Later, he became an independent and successful businessman. He worked as a traveling salesman and in wholesale food businesses.
Alencar eventually turned his family's small clothing factory into a very large company. In 1967, he started Coteminas. This company grew to become one of Brazil's biggest textile manufacturers. Coteminas made products for famous brands. Alencar aimed for his company to be a leader in the global market.
Entering the World of Politics
After many years as a successful businessman, Alencar decided to get into politics. He prepared his son, Josué Gomes da Silva, to take over his role at Coteminas. In 1994, he ran for governor of Minas Gerais, but he did not win. However, in 1998, he was elected as a Senator for Minas Gerais. As a Senator, Alencar worked on important committees, including one for economic and social matters.
In 2002, he officially stepped down from leading Coteminas. The company was very successful, with yearly sales of about 850 million reais. He then ran for Vice President of Brazil with Lula. Alencar's business background helped calm worries that Lula might be against businesses. He became an honorary president of the Liberal Party.
In 2005, Alencar changed his political party. He joined the new Brazilian Republican Party. This party was started by Bishop Marcelo Crivella, who leads a large church in Brazil.
Serving as Vice President
As Vice President, Alencar worked with another businessman in the government, Luiz Fernando Furlan. They spoke up for Brazilian business owners. They complained about too much paperwork, poor infrastructure, and careful money policies. Their efforts helped strengthen Apex-Brasil, an agency that helps Brazil export more goods. This agency was important for Brazil's growing exports.
Alencar was known for openly disagreeing with some of the government's economic policies. He often criticized the Brazilian Central Bank for not lowering interest rates. He also called for changes to Brazil's tax system.
In November 2004, he became the Minister of Defence. President Lula asked him to take on this role. Alencar tried to resign several times. He felt that a businessman might not be the best person to lead the country's military forces. But President Lula convinced him to stay until March 2006. Then, Alencar resigned, and Waldir Pires took over.
Despite his disagreements, Lula asked Alencar to be his running mate again in the 2006 elections. Lula won, and Alencar continued as Vice President for another term. He planned to run for the Senate in 2010. However, his cancer had progressed too much, and he had to withdraw.
Personal Life
After becoming successful, José Alencar married Mariza Gomes in 1957. They had three children: two daughters, Maria da Graça and Patrícia, and a son, Josué. Josué took over the leadership of Coteminas when his father entered politics.
His Battle with Cancer
In 1997, during a regular check-up, José Alencar was diagnosed with stomach cancer and kidney cancer. He underwent treatment, and doctors removed his right kidney and part of his stomach. Five years later, a tumor in his prostate was removed. The cancer continued to spread. In 2006, doctors found a tumor in his abdomen. In January 2009, he had surgery to remove eight more tumors.
Alencar received chemotherapy for many years. He was mostly treated at Hospital Sírio-Libanês in São Paulo. He also received special experimental treatment in Houston, Texas. He had many operations, eighteen in total, to fight the disease.
José Alencar passed away in March 2011 in São Paulo. He had battled cancer for 13 years. His death brought sadness and respect from many people. Former President Lula said Alencar was a man of great kindness and spirit. President Rousseff said it was an honor to have worked with him. Brazil held a state funeral for José Alencar, and the country observed seven days of official mourning. Alencar is remembered as an honest and independent politician who cared about social well-being and economic freedom.
Images for kids
-
An honor guard carrying the casket of José Alencar up the ramp of the Planalto Palace in Brasília, 2011.
-
Alencar, visited by President Lula and President-elect Rousseff, receiving anticancer treatment at Sírio-Libanês Hospital in São Paulo, 2010.
See also
In Spanish: José Alencar para niños
