the explosion, and six other soldiers were seriously wounded. In response to this action, the government intensified its repressive and subversive activities. Illness and death After suddenly suffering a cerebral thrombosis, Costa e Silva was removed from duties on 31 August 1969. Although civilian Vice President Pedro Aleixo should have succeeded him, the three armed forces ministers instead took power as a military junta under the 12th Institutional Act. Costa e Silva legally remained President until 14 October when he was formally removed from office by the 16th Institutional Act. Costa e Silva died on 17 December of that same year, the victim of a heart attack. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the military junta introduced new amendments to the 1967 Constitution that gave the already highly authoritarian document an even more repressive tone. Despite this, it was less repressive than the AI-5. Shortly after this "Constitutional Amendment no. 1", sometimes referred to as the Constitution of 1969, was passed into law by the junta, Congress was summoned from its two-year recess and charged with electing a successor. General Emílio Garrastazu Médici was the sole candidate, and was elected unanimously. Due to the heavy press censorship of the time, many people did not accept the official version of events about Costa e Silva's illness, instead believing that he had been removed by the more conservative elements of the military regime. Regardless of such theories, there is no proof that Costa e Silva was anything else but seriously ill at the time of his removal. Honours Foreign honours Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ (Portugal, November 13, 1965) Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword (Portugal, August 4, 1967) Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (Norway, September 6, 1967) Honorary Knight Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (United Kingdom, November 5, 1968) See also President Costa e Silva Bridge List of presidents of Brazil History of Brazil (1964-present) 1964 Brazilian coup d'état References Bibliography KOIFMAN, Fábio (org.) – Presidentes do Brasil, Editora Rio, 2001. PORTELLA DE MELLO, Jayme A Revolução e o Governo Costa e Silva, Editora Guavira, 1979. SILVA, Hélio, Costa e Silva – 23º Presidente do Brasil, Editora Três, 1983. TAVARES, Aurélio de Lyra,O Exército no Governo Costa e Silva, Editora Departamento de Imprensa Nacional, 1968. 1899 births 1969 deaths People from Rio Grande do Sul Brazilian people