Roberto Jefferson
Roberto Jefferson | |
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National President of PTB | |
Assumed office 14 April 2016 | |
Preceded by | Cristiane Brasil |
Federal Deputy from Rio de Janeiro | |
In office 1 February 1983 – 15 September 2005 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Roberto Jefferson Monteiro Francisco 14 June 1953 Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil |
Political party | PTB (Since 1982) PDS (1979–80) MDB (1971–79) |
Spouse(s) | Ana Lúcia Novaes (m. 2015) |
Children | Cristiane Brasil Fabiana Brasil Roberto Francisco Neto |
Mother | Neusa Dalva Monteiro |
Father | Roberto Francisco |
Alma mater | Estácio S.A. |
Roberto Jefferson Monteiro Francisco is a Brazilian politician.
Personal life and education[]
He was born on June 14, 1953 in Petrópolis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. He is the son of Neusa Dalva Monteiro Francisco and Roberto Francisco. Roberto Jefferson is married to Ana Lúcia Novaes.[1]
He finished his high school studies at Werneck School in Petrópolis, and received a law degree in 1979 from the Estácio de Sá University in Rio de Janeiro.
Various parties[]
His political career began officially in 1971, when he joined the MDB (known as PMDB since 1979) party. Jefferson remained in MDB until 1979, when he went to the Progressive Party (PP). He left the PP in 1980 and he joined the Brazilian Labour Party (PTB), which his grandfather helped to form in 1945.
Career with the PTB[]
Jefferson and his party were one of the key supporters of right wing Fernando Collor de Mello government, and a key defender in Congress during the influence peddling scandal which led to Collor to impeachment.[2]
In 1993, he was cited in a congressional report which investigated bribery in the congressional budgeting committee as an individual who should be "investigated further". Ultimately his financial assets were deemed compatible with his declared income, though undeclared assets were found.[2]
In 1999, he became leader of the PTB party in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. He continued as their leader until 2002. In February 2003, PTB elected him as its National President.
Corruption scandal and other controversies[]
In 2005, Jefferson became involved in a corruption scandal related to the Correios, the Brazilian postal administration. Facing a congressional inquiry related to his actions, Jefferson retaliated by exposing a cash-for-votes scheme, where he claimed congressmen were paid monthly sums to in exchange for votes supporting president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in what became known as the Mensalão scandal. The scandal included dozens of parliamentarians of the government's coalition and two government ministers, among others, resulting in the indictment of forty people by the Supreme Federal Tribunal, for their alleged role in one of the country's biggest corruption scandals in recent years.
He was expelled from Congress on September 14, 2005, stemming from his actions in the Correios scandal.[3] The expulsion bars him from being elected to any public office until 2015.[4][5]
In 2021, Jefferson posted a post on Instagram accusing Jews of sacrificing children, which drew massive criticism from Jewish organisations and led to the removal of the post.[5][6] The Brazilian Israelite Confederation confirmed it was preparing to file charges against Jefferson.[7][8]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Nunes Leal, Luciana (29 May 2015). "Roberto Jefferson se casa e menciona mensalão em declaração à noiva" (in Portuguese). Estadão. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Saiba mais sobre Roberto Jefferson, pivô da crise no governo Lula. Folha Online. June 13, 2007.
- ^ Por 313 votos a favor e 156 contra, Câmara cassa Roberto Jefferson. UOL Notícias. September 14, 2005. Retrieved on October 14, 2007.
- ^ Q&A: Brazil corruption scandal. BBC News. September 4, 2007. Retrieved on October 14, 2007.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Gilban, Marcus M. "Brazilian Jews file complaint over politician who said Jews sacrifice children". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ "Confederação Israelita vai apresentar notícia-crime contra Roberto Jefferson por racismo". G1 (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ "Confederação Israelita prepara notícia-crime contra Roberto Jefferson". VEJA (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ Redação (2021-03-21). "Confederação Israelita vai denunciar Roberto Jefferson por antissemitismo". CartaCapital (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-03-23.
External links[]
- 1953 births
- Living people
- Brazilian lawyers
- People from Petrópolis
- Brazilian whistleblowers
- Brazilian Democratic Movement politicians
- Progressistas politicians
- Brazilian Labour Party (current) politicians
- Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil) from Rio de Janeiro (state)
- Brazilian politicians convicted of corruption
- Far-right politics in Brazil