Eduardo Leite

Last updated
Thalis Bolzan
​
(m. 2024)​
Eduardo Leite
Eduardo Leite no Palacio Piratini em marco de 2019.jpg
Leite in March 2019
Governor of Rio Grande do Sul
Assumed office
1 January 2023
Alma mater Federal University of Pelotas (LL.B)

Eduardo Figueiredo Cavalheiro Leite (born 10 March 1985) is a Brazilian politician and governor of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. During the state's 2018 election, he won with 53.62% of the vote. Leite was elected governor at 33 years old, becoming the youngest governor in Brazil. In July 2021, Leite came out as gay during an interview for the Brazilian talk show Conversa com Bial , becoming the first openly gay governor in Brazil's history, [1] and second openly LGBT governor of this country after Fátima Bezerra of Rio Grande do Norte. [2]

Contents

He was elected governor of Rio Grande do Sul for the second time in the second round of the 2022 gubernatorial election. [3] Alongside his position as governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Leite was the president of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party from January to November 2023. [4] [5]

Political career

Eduardo Leite at age 5, in 1990. Eduardo Leite em 1990 (cropped-2).jpg
Eduardo Leite at age 5, in 1990.

Leite began his career in politics at a young age, first running for Pelotas city council in 2004 at age 19. Though unsuccessful, Leite began working for local Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) municipal politicians and, in 2009, would be elected to Pelotas city council. In 2011, Leite became the Pelotas City Council President.[ citation needed ] In 2013, Leite won the city's mayoral election and served from 2013 to 2016.

During his term as mayor, Leite modernized management methods and prioritized fiscal austerity, which resulted in balanced public accounts. He was able to guarantee funding for major infrastructure works and the remodeling of the urban mobility system, while also improving local health and education indicators. Leite ended his term with an approval rating of 87%.[ citation needed ]. Concerned with high incumbency rates among Brazilian politicians, Leite opted to not run for re-election, instead backing his vice-mayor, Paula Schild Mascarenhas, in her successful candidacy.

In 2016, Eduardo Leite was chosen by “Americas Quarterly”, a North-American magazine, as one of the five most promising politicians under 40 in Latin America. [6]

After his term as mayor, Leite enrolled in a Master's program in Public Management at Fundação Getúlio Vargas. [7]

Governor of Rio Grande do Sul

2018 gubernatorial campaign

In 2017, the PSDB, under Leite's leadership, withdrew support from the administration of José Ivo Sartori. The following year, the PSDB nominated Leite as its gubernatorial candidate. Sartori originally expressed an interest in Leite standing as his running mate. [8] In the first round of elections, Leite earned 35.9% of the vote and faced Sartori in a runoff election. [9] Leite won the runoff election with nearly 54% of the vote. [10]

During the same Legislative elections, Leite's electoral coalition only elected 18 of the 55 members of the State Legislature, requiring Leite to enter into coalition negotiations to obtain a parliamentary majority. Leite was able to secure the support of many formerly Sartori-aligned parties, including the Brazilian Socialist Party, Democrats and the Liberal Party. While initially reluctant, the Brazilian Democratic Movement voted to join Leite's government upon the recognition of similarities between their economic policies. After the successful negotiations, 32 of 55 Assembly members backed the Leite administration. [11]

First term

Eduardo Leite and Jose Ivo Sartori, his opponent in the 2018 runoff, during the government transition. Eduardo Leite e Jose Ivo Sartori em janeiro de 2019 (cropped).png
Eduardo Leite and José Ivo Sartori, his opponent in the 2018 runoff, during the government transition.

Leite was sworn as the governor of Rio Grande do Sul in 2019. In his inauguration address, he stressed the necessity of political conciliation to overcome the economic crisis in increasingly polarized times. [12] He allocated most of his cabinet membership to coalition partners, having nine parties represented. [13] Alleging cost reduction, he became the first governor to live in the state's palace since Olívio Dutra. [14]

He established privatizations as a priority, with the state-owned companies of energy, mines and natural gas being its main targets. [15] Since the State Constitution requires referendums to privatize these stated owned companies, Leite introduced a constitutional amendment to abolish this requirement, it was approved by Assembly in May 2019, by 40 ayes vs 13 no, with all but the PT, PDT and PSOL voting in favor. [16] In August 2019, the State Assembly authorized the sale of these state companies, with the process being fully completed in early 2021. [17]

In late 2019, he announced a comprehensive austerity package that would include pension reform and changes to the state public service, Leite described the changes as necessary to restore fiscal responsibility but allied parties were skeptical of the proposal, with the Social Liberal Party initially withdrawing support from the government. [18] After lengthy negotiations with each of the coalition parties and the syndicates, the Assembly approved the reform in January 2020, it was considered a historical victory and the most ambitious reform in the state's history. [19]

In 2021, far-right politician Roberto Jefferson used a homophobic slur against Leite while critiquing the response of his government to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 19 March 2021, Leite filed a criminal complaint against Jefferson. [20] [21] [22] In September 2022, Jeffereson's conviction was definitively confirmed by Rio Grande do Sul State Court of Justice. Jefferson was ordered to pay a fine of R$300,000 (US$55,427). [23]

2022 gubernatorial campaign

On 31 March 2022, he resigned as Governor of Rio Grande do Sul to possibly run in the 2022 presidential election, despite his defeat in the 2021 PSDB presidential primary. [24] He eventually announced he would seek reelection as Governor of Rio Grande do Sul. In the first round, the former governor received 26.81% of votes, coming in 2nd place with only 2,441 votes more than Edegar Pretto from the Workers' Party who came in third place with 26.77%. He faced Onyx Lorenzoni in the second round, prevailing over him with 57.12% of votes. [25] [3]

Second term

Leite was sworn in on 1 January 2023 as governor of Rio Grande do Sul for a second term. [26]

Political positions

Leite is considered a left-leaning member of the PSDB. Leite identified as a social democrat in 2019, and as a social liberal in 2020, [27] [28] arguing that the state has a role to play in regulating business and helping to manage inequality, while also stating that the private sector and social entrepreneurship has a role to play. Prior to this, he has expressed support for same-sex marriage and decriminalization of marijuana, although he took a more conservative stance on the decriminalization of abortion. Leite has also expressed support for urban gun control measures. [29] [30]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazilian Social Democracy Party</span> Political party in Brazil

The Brazilian Social Democracy Party, also known as the Brazilian Social Democratic Party or the Party of Brazilian Social Democracy, is a political party in Brazil. As the third largest party in the National Congress, the PSDB was the main opposition party against the Workers' Party (PT) administrations of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff from 2003 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressistas</span> Political party in Brazil

Progressistas is a centre-right to right-wing political party in Brazil. Founded in 1995 as the Brazilian Progressive Party, it emerged from parties that were successors to ARENA, the ruling party of the Brazilian military dictatorship. A pragmatist party, it supported the governments of presidents Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Dilma Rousseff, Michel Temer and Jair Bolsonaro. Largely it was the party of the politics of Paulo Maluf, a former governor and mayor of São Paulo. Of all political parties, in corruption investigation Operation Car Wash, the Progressistas had the most convictions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geraldo Alckmin</span> Vice president of Brazil

Geraldo José Rodrigues Alckmin Filho is a Brazilian physician and politician who has served as the 26th vice president of Brazil since 1 January 2023. He previously served as the Governor of São Paulo in nonconsecutive terms from 2001 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2018, the longest since democratization. He was the candidate of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party for president, losing in 2006 and 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeda Crusius</span> Brazilian economist and politician

Yeda Rorato Crusius is an economist and was governor of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul from January 1, 2007, until December 31, 2010. She was the first female governor of the state. She wrote her autobiography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Rio Grande do Sul gubernatorial election</span>

The state elections in Rio Grande do Sul in 2010 were held at the same time as Brazil's federal elections October 3. Since 1994, as a result of a constitutional amendment that reduced the presidential term to four years, all federal and state elections in Brazil are held on the same date. The state elections decide governors and the membership of the State Legislative Assemblies. Additionally, members of Congress are elected by the people of each state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romeu Zema</span> Brazilian businessman and politician (born 1964)

Romeu Zema Neto is a Brazilian businessman, administrator, and politician affiliated with the NOVO party. The current Governor of the state of Minas Gerais, Zema served as the head of the Zema Group, an industrial conglomerate, from 1990 to 2016. First elected in 2018, he won 42.73% of the valid votes, qualifying for a second round against Antônio Anastasia. Winning with 72.80% of the votes, he was inaugurated in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onyx Lorenzoni</span> Brazilian politician, businessman, and veterinarian

Onyx Dornelles Lorenzoni is a Brazilian politician, businessman, and veterinarian. A member of the Liberal Party (PL), he served as a federal deputy from Rio Grande do Sul for five terms. After the 2018 Brazilian general election, the president-elect Jair Bolsonaro invited Lorenzoni to be his Chief of Staff. He was also designated leader of the transition team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Brazilian municipal elections</span> Municipal elections in Brazil

Municipal elections took place in Brazil on 15 November 2020. Electors chose Mayors, Vice-Mayors and City Councillors of all 5,568 cities of the country. The partisan conventions took place between 31 August and 16 September. They were the first elections since Bolsonaro's election as President.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 PSDB presidential primary</span> Brazilian political primary

The 2021 PSDB presidential primary was held on 21 and 27 November 2021 to elect the Brazilian Social Democracy Party presidential nominee.

Gubernatorial elections were held in Brazil on 2 October 2022 as part of the nationwide general elections to elect tickets with state governors and their vice governors. A second round was held on 30 October for states where no candidate was able to secure more than half of the votes in the first round.

The 2022 Rio Grande do Sul state election took place in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on 2 October 2022. Voters elected a Governor, Vice Governor, one Senator, 31 representatives for the Chamber of Deputies and 55 Legislative Assembly members, with a possible second round to be held on 30 October 2022. Former governor Eduardo Leite, was eligible for a second term and announced that he's running for reelection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Paraná gubernatorial election</span> Gubernatorial election in Brazil

The 2022 Paraná state election took place in the state of Paraná, Brazil on 2 October 2022. Voters elected a Governor, Vice Governor, one Senator, 30 representatives for the Chamber of Deputies, and 54 Legislative Assembly members. The incumbent Governor, Ratinho Júnior, of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), was reelected in the first round with 69.64% of the votes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranolfo Vieira Júnior</span>

Ranolfo Vieira Júnior is a Brazilian civil police officer and politician, member of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB). He was elect Vice Governor of Rio Grande do Sul in the 2018 state elections. Under Eduardo Leite governorship, Vieira also was nominated State Secretary of Public Security. After Leite's resignation in March 2022, Vieira became the Governor of Rio Grande do Sul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor of Rio Grande do Sul</span> Head of Government of Rio Grande do Sul

The governor of Rio Grande do Sul is the head of government of the state's executive branch, assisted by his secretaries, whom he freely chooses. Elected by absolute majority in universal suffrage, together with the vice-governor, his term lasts four years; since 1997, reelection has been possible, and although all have sought it, none has succeeded. The current governor is Eduardo Leite, since January 1, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renan Contar</span> Brazilian politician

Renan Barbosa Contar is a Brazilian retired military officer and politician. Contar was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Mato Grosso do Sul from 2019 to 2023. He ran in the 2022 Mato Grosso do Sul state election as a candidate for governor, but was defeated by Eduardo Riedel (PSDB) on the second round. He attended the Preparatory School of Cadets for the Army in 2002 in Campinas, Brazil. He graduated from the Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras in 2006 in Resende.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eduardo Riedel</span> Brazilian politician

Eduardo Corrêa Riedel is a Brazilian politician who is the 12th and current Governor of Mato Grosso do Sul. A member of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, he previously served as the 27th Secretary of State for Infrastructure and Housing in Mato Grosso do Sul from 2021 to 2022 under Government Reinaldo Azambuja and 20th Secretary of State for Government and Strategic Management of Mato Grosso do Sul from 2015 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Mato Grosso do Sul gubernatorial election</span> Gubernatorial election to be held in Brazil

The 2022 Mato Grosso do Sul state election took place in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil between 2 October 2022 and 30 October 2022. Voters elected a governor, vice governor, a senator, 8 representatives for the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil and 24 Legislative Assembly members. The incumbent governor at the time, Reinaldo Azambuja, wasn't allowed to run for reelection for a third consecutive time due to term limits established by the Federal Constitution of Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose Modesto</span>

Rosiane Modesto de Oliveira is a Brazilian politician and teacher, who has served as a federal deputy of Mato Grosso do Sul from 2019 to 2023. She was previously the Vice Governor of Mato Grosso do Sul from January 2015 to January 2019 in the government of Reinaldo Azambuja. Her tenure was between January 2015 and April 2016 Secretary of Human Rights, Social Assistance and Labor of Mato Grosso do Sul during the government of Reinaldo Azambuja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Eduardo Riedel</span>

Eduardo Riedel's term as the 12th Governor of Mato Grosso do Sul began with his inauguration on January 1, 2023, Riedel, a social democracy from Rio de Janeiro who once served as secretary in Reinaldo Azambuja's government, took office after his victory in the state election in 2022. Riedel had 56.90% of the valid votes and defeated state deputy Capitão Contar, which had the support of President Jair Bolsonaro and won 43.10% of the valid votes.

References

  1. ↑ "Eduardo Leite, governador do RS, fala sobre homossexualidade em entrevista a Bial: 'Eu sou gay. E tenho orgulho disso'". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  2. ↑ "Fátima Bezerra elogia Eduardo Leite por se assumir gay:"Gesto importante"". poder360 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  3. 1 2 "Brazil election: Lula triumphs over far-right incumbent Bolsonaro in stunning comeback". the Guardian. 2022-10-30. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  4. ↑ "Eduardo Leite assume presidência do PSDB com desafio de reconstruir o partido". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  5. ↑ Teixeira, Pedro. "PSDB escolhe Marconi Perillo como novo presidente do partido". CNN Brasil. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  6. ↑ Kurczy, Stephen (September 30, 2016). "AQ Top 5 Politicians Under 40: Eduardo Leite". Americas Quarterly. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  7. ↑ "Aos 33 anos, Eduardo Leite (PSDB) é eleito governador do RS | VEJA.com". veja.abril.com.br. 2018-10-29. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  8. ↑ "Rumo ao Piratini: quem são e como se articulam os pré-candidatos ao governo do RS". GZH (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  9. ↑ "Eleições 2018 no G1 – Pesquisas, Apuração de Votos e Resultados". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-04-27.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ "Segundo turno Eduardo Leite X José Ivo Sartori: Apuração dos votos e resultado das Eleições 2018 RS". UOL Eleições 2018. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  11. ↑ "Com apoio do PSB, base de Leite tem 32 deputados". Jornal do Comércio (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  12. ↑ "Eduardo Leite pede união ao tomar posse como governador do RS". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). January 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  13. ↑ "Conheça o secretariado do governo de Eduardo Leite". Leouve (in Brazilian Portuguese). January 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  14. ↑ "Saiba por que Eduardo Leite decidiu morar no Piratini". GZH (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  15. ↑ "Privatizações devem ser prioridade para governo Leite, diz secretário da Casa Civil". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 21 January 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  16. ↑ "PEC do plebiscito é aprovada em primeiro turno na Assembleia do RS". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 23 April 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  17. ↑ "Assembleia Legislativa aprova projetos que autorizam a privatização da CEEE, CRM e Sulgás". NH (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  18. ↑ "Eduardo Leite encaminha pacote da reforma do RS à Assembleia: 'As medidas não são simpáticas, mas fundamentais'". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 13 November 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  19. ↑ "Eduardo Leite comemora vitórias históricas na Assembleia Legislativa". Jornal do Comércio (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  20. ↑ "Leite apresenta representação contra Roberto Jefferson". Correio do povo . 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
  21. ↑ "Governador do RS aciona MP contra Roberto Jefferson por homofobia: "Ofendeu a dignidade humana"". Revista Forum. 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
  22. ↑ "Após ser chamado de "viado", Eduardo Leite processa Roberto Jefferson por homofobia". Clic Camaquã. 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
  23. ↑ "TJ-RS mantém condenação de Roberto Jefferson por homofobia contra Eduardo Leite". Extra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  24. ↑ "Brazilian Governor Leite Resigns to Possibly Vie for President". Bloomberg.com. 28 March 2022.
  25. ↑ "Onyx Lorenzoni (PL) e Eduardo Leite (PSDB) disputam 2º turno no RS; veja resultado" (in Portuguese). G1 Globo. 2022-10-02.
  26. ↑ "Eduardo Leite é empossado governador em solenidade na Assembleia Legislativa". January 2023.
  27. ↑ "Da geração do Fórum Social, governador do RS se diz liberal desde os 16". Folha de S.Paulo. 2021-01-05.
  28. ↑ "Míriam Leitão: Governador eleito do RS defende a 'essência' social-democrata do PSDB".
  29. ↑ GloboNews. July 2, 2019
  30. ↑ Carvalho, Bruna (October 31, 2012). "'I don't think I'm an example of beauty', says mayor-elect in Pelotas" (in Portuguese) iG . Accessed on September 11, 2019
Political offices
Preceded by
Milton Rodrigues Martins
 President of the Municipal Chamber of Pelotas
2011–2013		Succeeded by
Luiz Eduardo Nogueira
Preceded by
Fetter Júnior
 Mayor of Pelotas
2013–2017		Succeeded by
Paula Mascarenhas
Preceded by Governor of Rio Grande do Sul
2019–2022		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Rio Grande do Sul
2023–present		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by National President of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party
2023		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.