Second Lady of Brazil (Portuguese: Segunda-dama do Brasil) is a title given to the hostess of the Jaburu Palace. This title is less used when compared to the title of First Lady of Brazil.
The term second lady, made in contrast to first lady (who is almost all the time the spouse of the president), was used by Josina Peixoto (whose husband, Floriano Peixoto, was vice president in 1891) to refer to the spouse of the Vice President.[1]
The visibility of the Second Lady in the public sphere has been a recent development[2] besides the role of the First Lady as hostess of the Alvorada Palace (previously the Catete Palace and the Itamaraty Palace) dates from the beginning of the republic.
Ten Second Ladies became First Ladies of Brazil during her spouses tenures as president. The first was Josina Peixora, wife of Floriano Peixoto, who was the first Vice President in 1891 and the second President from 1891 to 1894. The last one was Marcela Temer, wife of Michel Temer, who had served as 24th Vice President from 2011 to 2016 and 37th President from 2016 to 2019. Mariquita Aleixo wasn't officially established as First Lady, as her husband was prevented from assuming office. Only Francisca Ribeiro was First Lady and later assumed the role of Second Lady.
Even no country concedes any legal power to the Second Ladies, their roles frequently include hosting during reception in the vice presidential residence, to escort the Vice President in official trips and many ceremonial duties. Recently, the vice presidential spouses assume public roles which attracted significant attention from the media.
Paula Mourão launched the Clean Hands, Healthy Life campaign in April 2020, along the Brazilian Culture Institute, with the objective of raise donaitions of soaps and alcohol gel to be distributed in Brasília, federal capital, with destination to poor people who are in social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.[5] Followed by a voluntary team, Paula distributed 4,000 hygiene kits to families of poor communities of Itapoã and Sol Nascente, who live in vulnerable situation. In Jabiru's Palace, the Second Lady formalized the deliver of the donations to Itapoã administrator, to the Commander of the 2nd Western Regional Policing Command and to the Commander of the 2nd Military Police Battalion, who conducted the donations and distributed them to the needy.[6][7]
There were 14 vacancies of the role, the longest one had been the 16 years landmark between Clotilde de Mello Vianna and Beatriz Ramos. This vacancy occurred due to the abolition of the office of Vice President of Brazil during the Vargas Era. The most recent period without a Second Lady was between Marcela Temer and Paula Mourão.
The youngest Second Lady in history was Maria Thereza Goulart, aged 19 when assumed the role. The oldest was Mariza Gomes, aged 67. Gomes' record will be surpassed on 1 January 2023, when Lu Alckmin will assume role at the age of 71.
Gallery of vice presidential couples
Vice President Estácio Coimbra and Second Lady Joanna Coimbra 1922–1926
Various other spouses of vice presidents of Brazil are not considered as second ladies of Brazil because their marriages were not during the vice presidential terms of their husbands.
Two Brazilian vice presidents were widowed prior to their vice presidencies:
Francisco Rosa e Silva was married to Maria das Dores Rosa e Silva from 1883 until her death in 1892.
^Esther Brandão didn't assume her role as Second Lady, as her husband died before inauguration.
^Due to the illness and consequent death of President-elect Rodrigues Alves, Vice President Delfim Moreira assumed office as President from 15 November 1918 to 28 July 1919.
^Due to the illness and death of president Costa e Silva, Pedro Aleixo was supposed to assume the office, but he was prevented by the 1969 military junta.
References
^"As Primeiras Damas". Biblioteca Nacional (in Portuguese) (682). Manchete: 42–43. 1965. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
^"A função da segunda-dama". O Antagonista (in Portuguese). 16 April 2020. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
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