Sarney Takes Oath as Neves’ Replacement

Jose Sarney was sworn in Monday as Brazil’s first civilian president in 21 years as the body of President-elect Tancredo Neves was borne atop a red fire truck through the jammed streets of Sao Paulo and then flown here to the national capital.

Sarney, 54-year-old vice president who assumed Neves’ duties when the newly elected president became ill in mid-March, officially became president for a six-year term in a ceremony at the Senate offices. He pledged that “the legacy of Tancredo Neves will live on.”

Congress met in special session early Monday and declared the presidency vacant, allowing Sarney to become chief of state of Latin America’s largest nation.

Neves, chosen by an electoral college, was to have taken office on March 15. But the night before, he was taken to a hospital for emergency intestinal surgery, and he never recovered from seven subsequent operations and extensive bacterial infections. He died Sunday.

‘Candle in the Darkness’

Sarney spoke on radio and television early Monday, declaring in a breaking voice: “Our program is Tancredo Neves’ program. The memory of Tancredo Neves will be our unity, our inspiration, a lighted candle in the darkness of our sadness.”

He promised to fight inflation, hunger, violence and unemployment--all pressing problems in Brazil, whose foreign debt of more than $100 billion is the highest in the developing world.

Leaders of all parties said they will support Sarney, although some jurists have questioned whether he should be allowed to stay in power automatically for Neves’ full six-year term.

Analysts said no immediate political crisis is likely in the world’s sixth most populous nation.

8 Days of Mourning

Sarney declared a national holiday Monday and eight days of official mourning.

In Washington, President Reagan said he was profoundly saddened over Neves’ “untimely demise” and named Commerce Secretary Malcolm Baldrige to head the U.S. delegation to the funeral.

Neves is survived by his wife, Rosalita, and three children.