José Alencar Gomes da Silva is the vice president of Brazil since 2002, under president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Born in Muriaé, in the inland state of Minas Gerais in October 17th 1931, he became a successful businessman, and was elected for the Senate in 1998. In 2001 he was selected as Lula´s running mate, in an effort to assuage worries about the then candidate´s supposed anti-business bias. 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (born October 6, 1945) is a left-wing Brazilian politician. ... Minas Gerais is one of the states of Brazil, the second most populous in the federation. ... October 17 is the 290th (in leap years the 291st) day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. ... 1931 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In office Alencar has often criticized his own government for failing to lower interest rates. In November 2004 he was sworn in as defence minister, following the resignation of José Viegas.