Wilson Witzel

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Wilson Witzel
Governor of Rio de Janeiro
In office
1 January 2019 – 30 April 2021
Suspended: 28 August 2020 – 30 April 2021
Vice GovernorCláudio Castro
Preceded byFrancisco Dornelles (acting)
Succeeded byCláudio Castro
Personal details
Born
Wilson José Witzel

(1968-02-19) 19 February 1968 (age 56)
PSC
(2018–present)
Spouse
Helena Alves Brandão
​
​
(m. 2004)​
Alma materFluminense Federal University (LL.B.)
OccupationPolitician, Lawyer, Professor of Economic Criminal Law
Known forFormer Federal Judge
Signature
Military service
AllegianceBrazil Brazil
Branch/service Brazilian Navy
Rank 2nd Lieutenant

Wilson José Witzel (born 19 February 1968) is a Brazilian politician and lawyer who was the 63rd

Social Christian Party, Witzel is a former federal judge and is an ex-marine. On 28 October 2018, he was elected Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro with a four-year term beginning in January 2019, replacing Luiz Fernando Pezão,[1] until his impeachment in April 2021.[2]

Witzel holds a master's in Civil Law, and has been a professor of Criminal Law for more than 20 years. As a federal judge, he served in different civil and criminal courts in Rio de Janeiro and in Vitória (Espírito Santo).[3]

Life and career

Witzel was born in 1968 in

PSC).[5]

He officially announced his candidacy for the position of Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro on 21 July 2018.[6] His deputy was Rio de Janeiro city councilor Cláudio Castro, also of the PSC.[7][8]

Witzel initially polled at just 1%, tied with André Monteiro (

Indio da Costa (PSD), Pedro Fernandes (PDT) and Marcia Tiburi (PT).[9]

Polls closer to the election placed him much higher at 17%, still behind Eduardo Paes, who had 27%, and tied with Romario.[10] This was considered surprising because Witzel was a relatively unknown in the state and had only 27 seconds of electoral advertising time. Many commentators attributed his popularity to his early endorsement of Jair Bolsonaro PSL.[11][12][13]

On 7 October 2018, in the first round of the 2018 Rio de Janeiro gubernatorial election, Witzel received 3,154,771 votes or 41.28%, coming in first; second was Eduardo Paes, of the DEM, former mayor of Rio de Janeiro, with 1,494,831 votes or 19.56%, Tarcísio Motta came third with 10.72%. Witzel and Paes advanced to the second round. The result was considered a surprise given Witzel's low standing in the early polls.

In the second round of the elections, Wilson Witzel was endorsed by the PRTB's candidate André Monteiro,[14] the Party of the Republic (now known as the Liberal Party),[15] from PSD candidate Indio da Costa, who initailly remained neutral [16] saying that he did not support Witzel, but later decided to declare his support for the Witzel,[17] and from PDT's candidate Pedro Fernandes. [18]

On 28 October 2018, in the second round of the gubernatorial electtion, Witzel obtained 4,675,355 votes or 59.87%. He was thus elected Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro for a term of 4 years starting January 2019; his opponent, Eduardo Paes, from DEM, received 3,134,400 votes or 40.13%.[19][20]

An ally of president Jair Bolsonaro, Witzel was elected after promising a "slaughter" of drug gangsters. Wilson Witzel officially took office as governor on 1 January 2019.[21] However, because Jair Bolsonaro took office as president of Brazil on the same day, Witzel's ceremony was postponed to 2 January 2019.[22][23] For his ceremony, Witzel had a special "governor's sash" made to be handed over to him by then-acting governor Francisco Dornelles. The practice, however, isn't official in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and wasn't tradition in the state's ceremonies.[22][24][25]

In September 2019, following the killing of an eight-year-old girl, hundreds protested in anger in the Complexo do Alemão favela where she was shot, and the hashtag "#aculpaedowitzel" (Portuguese: A culpa é do Witzel, lit. 'It's Witzel's fault') led trending topics in Brazil. Cartoons showing the smiling governor wiping blood from his face.[26]

On 14 April 2020, Witzel tested positive for COVID-19[27] shortly after on 11 June 2020 an impeachment process was opened against Witzel alleging graft in purchase of medical supplies.[28]

On 28 August 2020, the Superior Court of Justice suspended Witzel from office as a result of suspected fraudulent purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic.[29]

References

  1. ^ "Wilson Witzel, do PSC, é eleito governador do RJ". G1. 28 October 2018.
  2. ^ Rosa, PH; Chaves, Raíza (30 April 2021). "Witzel sofre impeachment e perde o cargo de governador do Rio". R7 (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  3. ^ Godoy, Carol. "Jundiaiense está no segundo turno para o governo do RJ". tribunadejundiai.com.br.
  4. ^ "Wilson Witzel (PSC) - Candidato a Governador, Número 20".
  5. ^ "Wilson Witzel 20 (PSC) Governador | Rio de Janeiro | Eleições 2018". 28 October 2018.
  6. ^ "PSC oficializa candidatura de Wilson Witzel ao Governo do RJ". G1. 21 July 2018.
  7. ^ Dia, O. (August 6, 2018). "PSC-RJ anuncia vice na chapa de Wilson Witzel ao Governo do Estado". O Dia - Rio de Janeiro.
  8. ^ "Plano de Governo Wilson Witzel Coligação "Mais Ordem, Mais Progresso" PSC – Pros 20 Governo do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - Eleições 2018 - Fonte: Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE)" (PDF).
  9. ^ "Ibope: Romário, Paes e Garotinho empatam na disputa pelo governo do Rio". Poder360. August 20, 2018.
  10. ^ "Datafolha governador – Rio de Janeiro, votos válidos: Paes, 27%; Romário e Witzel, 17%; Índio, 13%". G1. 6 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Wilson Witzel (PSC) diz ter certeza que o próximo presidente será Jair Bolsonaro". Terra.
  12. ^ "Bolsonaro allies ride conservative wave in Brazil elections". the Guardian. October 8, 2018.
  13. ^ "Indigenous, Transgender Candidates Among Brazil Surprises - The New York Times (October 8, 2018)". The New York Times.
  14. ^ "André Monteiro, do PRTB, declara apoio a Wilson Witzel (PSC) no 2º turno do RJ". G1. 10 October 2018.
  15. ^ "PR bate o martelo e anuncia apoio a Wilson Witzel no segundo turno do Rio". 11 October 2018.
  16. ^ "PSD anuncia apoio a Wilson Witzel (PSC) no 2º turno da eleição para governador do RJ | Eleições 2018 no Rio de Janeiro | G1". 8 October 2018.
  17. ^ "Witzel ganha apoio de políticos de outros partidos e de rivais do 1º turno". O Globo. October 10, 2018.
  18. ^ "Pedro Fernandes, do PDT, anuncia apoio a Wilson Witzel no RJ". G1. 15 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Eleições 2018 no Rio de Janeiro". G1.
  20. ^ "Eleições 2018: Quem é Wilson Witzel, o juiz que venceu a eleição de governador do Rio com discurso radical". R7.com. October 29, 2018.
  21. ^ Amorim, Daniela (2019-01-01). "Novo governador do Rio promete combater a corrupção" [Rio's new governor promises to combat corruption]. O Estado de S. Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  22. ^ a b Alves, Raoni (2019-01-02). "Witzel recebe transmissão de cargo de Dornelles e fala em 'guerra' a 'terroristas'" [Dornelles hands office to Witzel, who speaks of 'war' on 'terrorists']. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  23. ^ "Witzel 'fatia' agenda para acompanhar posse de Bolsonaro em Brasília" [Witzel 'slices' schedule to keep up with Bolsonaro's ceremony in Brasília]. Veja (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2018-12-30. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  24. ^ Leal, Arthur (2019-01-04). "Witzel mandou confeccionar faixa de governador e faz questão de trajar adornos oficiais" [Witzeld had governor's sash made and insists on wearing official adornments]. O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  25. ^ Albuquerque, Ana Luiza (2019-01-14). "No início do governo no Rio, Witzel surpreende com gestos inusitados" [Starting on Rio's government, Witzel surprises with unusual actions]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  26. ^ The Guardian, 22 September 2019 brazilians blame rio governors shoot to kill policy
  27. ^ Reuters, 14 April 2020 [1]
  28. ^ "Rio de Janeiro governor faces impeachment proceedings over graft investigations". Reuters. June 10, 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
  29. ^ Sabóia, Gabriel (28 August 2020). "STJ afasta Witzel do cargo de governador do RJ; Pastor Everaldo é preso". UOL (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 August 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Governor of Rio de Janeiro

2019–2021 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wilson_Witzel&oldid=1219042803"