Second Lady of Brazil () 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.

The visibility of the Second Lady in the public sphere has been a recent development 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.

The current Second Lady of Brazil is Lu Alckmin, wife of 26th Vice President of Brazil Geraldo Alckmin.

History

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.

In 2011, Marcela Temer, wife of 24th Vice President Michel Temer, was involved with president Dilma Rousseff in the Prevention and Treatment of Cervical and Breast Cancer program, which was launched in Amazon Theatre.

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. 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.

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

List of second ladies of Brazil ImageSecond LadyVice PresidentTenureDate of birthDate of death (age)Tenure as First LadyJosina PeixotoFloriano Peixoto26 February 1891 – 23 November 18919 August 18575 November 1911 ()1891–1894Vacant; no vice president23 November 1891 – 15 November 1894Amélia PereiraManuel Vitorino15 November 1894 – 15 November 189814 November 1863Unknown dateVacant; Francisco Rosa e Silva was a widower15 November 1898 – 15 November 1902Esther BrandãoSilviano Brandão–22 October 186825 July 1956 ()Vacant; no vice president15 November 1902 – 17 June 1903Guilhermina PenaAfonso Pena17 June 1903 – 15 November 190621 June 185714 July 1929 ()1906–1909Anita PeçanhaNilo Peçanha15 November 1906 – 14 June 190921 March 18769 April 1960 ()1909–1910Vacant; no vice president14 June 1909 – 15 November 1910Maria Pereira GomesVenceslau Brás15 November 1910 – 15 November 191419 August 187514 August 1925 ()1914–1918Filomena AraújoUrbano Santos14 November 1914 – 15 November 191821 March 18683 August 1948 ()Francisca RibeiroDelfim Moreira15 November 1918 – 1 July 19209 October 187318 July 1965 ()1918–1919Antonietta de PaivaBueno de Paiva10 November 1920 – 15 November 19227 August 18734 July 1955 ()Joanna CoimbraEstácio Coimbra15 November 1922 – 15 November 192625 December 187318 October 1962 ()Alfida VianaFernando de Melo Viana15 November 1926 – 14 January 192810 June 187614 January 1928 ()Vacant; Fernando de Melo Viana was a widower14 January 1928 – 13 November 1928 Clotilde de Melo VianaFernando de Melo Viana13 November 1928 – 24 October 193013 June 190317 April 1978 ()Vacant; no vice president24 October 1930 – 19 September 1946Beatriz RamosNereu Ramos19 September 1946 – 31 January 19519 October 18981 June 1991 ()1955–1956Jandira CaféCafé Filho31 January 1951 – 24 August 195417 September 190328 February 1989 ()1954–1955Vacant; no vice president24 August 1954 – 31 January 1956Maria Thereza GoulartJoão Goulart31 January 1956 – 25 August 196123 August 19361961–1964Vacant; no vice president25 August 1961 – 15 April 1964Dasdores AlkminJosé Maria Alkmin15 April 1964 – 15 March 19674 September 190224 April 2000 ()Mariquita AleixoPedro Aleixo15 March 1967 – 31 August 19697 November 190521 June 1989 ()Vacant; no vice president31 August 1969 – 30 October 1969Ruth RademakerAugusto Rademaker30 October 1969 – 15 March 197426 March 191324 October 1995 ()Vacant; Adalberto Pereira dos Santos was a widower15 March 1974 – 15 March 1979Vivi ChavesAureliano Chaves15 March 1979 – 15 March 19858 August 192911 October 2002 ()Marly SarneyJosé Sarney15 March 1985 – 21 April 19854 December 19321985–1990Vacant; no vice president21 April 1985 – 15 March 1990Vacant; Itamar Franco was divorced15 March 1990 – 29 December 1992Vacant; no vice president29 December 1992 – 1 January 1995Anna Maria MacielMarco Maciel1 January 1995 – 1 January 200320 March 1941Mariza GomesJosé Alencar1 January 2003 – 1 January 201119 March 1935Marcela TemerMichel Temer1 January 2011 – 31 August 201616 May 19832016–2018Vacant; no vice president31 August 2016 – 1 January 2019Paula MourãoHamilton Mourão1 January 2019 – 1 January 20232 May 1976Lu AlckminGeraldo Alckmin1 January 2023 – present28 December 1951

Other spouses of Brazilian vice presidents 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. Adalberto Pereira dos Santos was married to Julieta Pereira dos Santos from 1941 until her death in 1968.

Two Brazilian vice presidents were widowed and remarried prior to their vice presidencies: Fernando de Melo Viana was married to Maria José de Melo Viana. He was subsequently married to Alfrida Viana from 1906 until her death in 1928. Hamilton Mourão was married to Elisabeth Mourão from 1976 until her death in 2016. He has subsequently been married to Paula de Oliveira since 2018.

One Brazilian vice president was divorced prior to his vice presidency: Itamar Franco was married to Ana Elisa Surerus from 1968 until 1978.

One Brazilian vice president was divorced and remarried prior to his vice presidency: Michel Temer was married to Maria Célia de Toledo from 1969 until 1987. He has subsequently been married to Marcela Tedeschi since 2003.

One Brazilian vice president remarried after his vice presidency: Francisco Rosa e Silva was married to Heloísa Rosa e Silva from 1911 until 1929.

See also First Lady of Brazil Vice President of Brazil

Notes

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