(Costa) (1930-) Brazilian politician, member of the center-left Democratic Movement, president 1985–90.
Sarney was elected vice president 1985 and within months, on the death of President Neves, became head of state. Despite earlier involvement with the repressive military regime, he and his party won a convincing victory in the 1986 general election. In Dec 1989, Ferdinando Collor de Mello of the Party for National Reconstruction was elected to succeed Sarney in March 1990.