Emílio Garrastazu Médici

Emílio Garrastazu Médici (Portuguese pronunciation: [eˈmilju ɡɐʁastaˈzu ˈmɛd(ʒi)si]; 4 December 1905 – 9 October 1985) was a Brazilian military leader and politician who was the 28th president of Brazil from 1969 to 1974. His authoritarian rule marked the apex of the Brazilian military regime.

During his administration, the country experienced the so-called "Economic Miracle", characterized by a 55.84% growth in GDP (an average of 11.16% per year) and a 42.15% increase in per capita income (an average of 8.43% per year). However, this period also saw a threefold rise in external debt and a growing income disparity. Médici took office with inflation at 19.31% and left it at 15.54%. However, the economic growth of the period was driven by a significant increase in foreign investment and a broad state-led investment program funded through international credit institutions. The latter caused a drastic rise in external debt, which grew from $3.9 billion in 1968 to over $12.5 billion in 1973.

His presidency also saw the completion of development projects such as the National Integration Plan (PIN), which enabled the construction of the Trans-Amazonian Highway and the Rio-Niterói Bridge, among other initiatives. There were also significant tax incentives for industry and agriculture, and an agreement with Paraguay for the construction of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant — still the most productive hydroelectric facility in the world.

During Médici's presidency, the military dictatorship reached its peak, with strict control over the limited political activities allowed. Repression and censorship of civil institutions were intensified, and any expression of dissent against the regime was prohibited. This period was marked by the systematic use of violent repression, including torture and assassination. Historically, his presidency has been referred to as the "Years of Lead." As a result of this legacy, in 2015 and 2024, respectively, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) revoked the honorary Doctorate degrees they had awarded him in the 1970s.