“Not Even God can Keep Me from the Presidency.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Tancredo de Almeida Neves, more commonly Tancredo Neves was a Brazilian politician.  He was born in São João del Rei, in the state of Minas Gerais, of Portuguese and Austrian descent, on 04^th March 1910. 

During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would keep him from the Presidency.  He did get the votes, but could not become President.  On 15^th January 1985, Tancredo was elected President by a majority of the Electoral College. 

However, on 14^th March, on the last day of his predecessor’s term, and on the eve of his own inauguration, Tancredo became severely ill, requiring immediate surgery.  Thus, he was unable to attend his own inauguration on the 05^th March.  The Constitution required the President and Vice-President elect to take oaths of office before the assembled National Congress.  The inauguration was accordingly held for the Vice-President only.  The Vice-President immediately assumed the powers of the presidency as Acting President. 

Tancredo suffered from abdominal complications, and developed generalised infections.  After seven operations, Tancredo died on the 21^st April, more than one month after the beginning of his term of office, without ever having taken the oath of office as President.  Never, ever, challenge God.