# José Sarney

_President of Brazil from 1985 to 1990_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/jose-sarney
Last updated: 2026-11-04

> José Sarney de Araújo Costa is a Brazilian politician, lawyer, and writer who served as the 31st president of Brazil from 1985 to 1990. He briefly served as the 20th vice president of Brazil for a month between March and April 1985.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 24 April 1930 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244997#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Pinheiro ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244997#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Brazil ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244997#P27))
- **Occupation:** lawyer; journalist; politician; writer; poet; novelist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244997#P106))
- **Political party:** Democratic Movement Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244997#P102))
- **Education:** Federal University of Maranhão ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244997#P69))
- **Spouse:** Marly Sarney ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244997#P26))
- **Official website:** josesarney.org ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244997#P856))
- **Positions held:** President of the Federal Senate of Brazil (2 February 2009 – 1 February 2013); President of the Federal Senate of Brazil (2 February 2003 – 2 February 2005); President of the Federal Senate of Brazil (2 February 1995 – 2 February 1997); Maranhão senator (1 February 1991 – 1 February 2015); President of Brazil (15 March 1985 – 15 March 1990); Vice President of the Federative Republic of Brazil (15 March 1985 – 21 April 1985); federal deputy of Maranhão ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244997#P39))
- **Awards:** Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross; Order of Rio Branco; Order of Naval Merit; Grand Cross of the Military Order of the Tower and Sword; Grand Cross of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword; Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry; Grand Cross of the Order of the Aztec Eagle; Grand Cross of Royal Norwegian Order of Merit; Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru‎; Grand Cross of the Order of the Condor of the Andes; Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour; Order of Boyacá; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus; Order of Cultural Merit (Brazil); honorary doctor of the Peking University ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244997#P166))

## Questions

**When was José Sarney born?**  
José Sarney was born on 24 April 1930 in Pinheiro.

**What positions has José Sarney held?**  
Positions held by José Sarney include: President of the Federal Senate of Brazil (2009–2013); President of the Federal Senate of Brazil (2003–2005); President of the Federal Senate of Brazil (1995–1997); Maranhão senator (1991–2015); President of Brazil (1985–1990).

**Where did José Sarney study?**  
José Sarney was educated at Federal University of Maranhão.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): José Sarney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Sarney) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q244997](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244997) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Foto Oficial Sarney EBC.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (CC BY 3.0 br)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Foto_Oficial_Sarney_EBC.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article José Sarney, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Foto Oficial Sarney EBC.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, CC BY 3.0 br.

## Cite this page

"José Sarney". DigiNepal. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/jose-sarney. Retrieved 6 November 2026.