Vice Presidency
In 1989, Franco left PL and joined the small PRN (National Reconstruction Party) to be selected the running-mate of the presidential candidate Fernando Collor de Mello. A main reason behind Franco's selection was that he represented one of the largest states (in contrast to Collor, who was from small state of Alagoas), and publicly he gained during his call for impeachment against President José Sarney for an alleged corruption.
Collor and Franco won a very narrow election against a man who would later become President (2002–2010), Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Once in office, Franco broke with Collor, threatening a resignation several times, as he disagreed with some of the President's policies, especially regarding privatization, voicing his opposition openly.
In 1992, Collor was charged with corruption and was impeached by the Congress. Under the Brazilian Constitution, an impeached president's powers are suspended for 180 days. As such, Franco served as acting president from October 1992 until Collor resigned on December 29, at which point he formally took office as president.
When he became acting President, despite having been Vice President for nearly three years, polls showed that the majority of the population did not know who he was.
Read more about this topic: Itamar Franco
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