Collor de Mello, Fernando Affonso (1949- )

Brazilian politician, president 1990-92. He founded the right-wing Partido de Reconstrução Nacional (PRN; National Reconstruction Party) in 1989. As its candidate, he won the first public presidential election in 29 years to become the youngest ever Brazilian president, promising to root out government corruption and entrenched privileges. His administration was based on renewed economic stability and sustained development, although his attempts to reduce inflation were unsuccessful.

However, rumours of his own past wrongdoing led to his constitutional removal from office by a vote of impeachment in congress in October 1992.

Collor de Mello resigned in December at the start of his trial and was subsequently banned from public office for eight years, but in January 1998 he was acquitted on eight counts of illegal enrichment. He was succeeded by his vice president Itamar Franco.

He was mayor of Maceió 1979-81, federal deputy 1982-85, and governor of the state of Alagoas 1986-89.