Luiz Fernando Pezão

Luiz Fernando de Souza, commonly known as Luiz Fernando Pezão or even Pezão (English: Bigfoot ) (born 29 March 1958) is an entrepreneur, politician and former governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro. He was succeeded by acting Governor Francisco Dornelles from 28 March 2016 to 31 October 2016.

Biography

Pezão has a degree in Administration and became a politician in the 1980s, as councillor of Piraí, Rio de Janeiro. He then served two times as mayor of the town.

In 2006, Pezão was chosen by Sérgio Cabral Filho, then candidate to the governorship of Rio de Janeiro, to be his running mate. They won the election and Pezão took office as Vice Governor and State Secretary of Public Works simultaneously.

In 2014, he assumed the office of governor due to the resignation of Sérgio Cabral Filho, that at the time had plans to run for the senate.

Pezão is a member of the Brazilian Democratic Movement, one of the most powerful political parties of the country.

He was reelected governor in the 2014 gubernatorial election, running against former governor Anthony Garotinho, and senators Lindberg Farias and Marcelo Crivella.

Corruption arrest

Governor Luiz Fernando Pezão, from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), attends a flag raising ceremony while he is in jail for corruption charges.

On 29 November 2018, after a request of the Prosecutor General of the Republic Raquel Dodge, accepted by the Justice of the Superior Court of Justice Felix Fischer, Pezão was arrested by the Federal Police in a new phase of Operation Car Wash, named Operation Werewolf (Operação Boca de Lobo).

Pezão is accused of proceeding with corruption schemes that began during the government of Sérgio Cabral Filho. As his term ends on 31 December 2018, Vice Governor Francisco Dornelles took office as Acting Governor.