This article intends to identify the Brazilian Communist Party's (PCB) strategies and its performance during João Goulart's government. Communists held different positions in that period: during the government's parliamentary phase, the party showed critical distance from the President. Later, in 1963, the PCB opposed Goulart, rejecting the presidential strategy of making an alliance between PTB and PSD to hold the majority in the National Congress. Finally, from late 1963 and up to the military coup the following year, communists became the President's allies. This change was motivated by Goulart's decision of breaking up with the PSD and ruling with left-wing parties' political support.
Brazilian Communist Party; João Goulart's government; 1964 political crisis