Roseana Sarney

Roseana Sarney Murad (born 1 June 1953) is a Brazilian politician and sociologist, who previously served as the Governor of Maranhão from 1995 to 2002 and from 2009 to 2014. Sarney served as a Senator from 2003 to 2009 and a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1991 to 1994 and from 2023 to present. A member of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), Sarney is the daughter of former President and senator José Sarney.

Sarney considered running for president in 2002, but a corruption scandal led to her withdrawal from the race on 15 April 2002.

Early life and family Roseana was born at her maternal grandfather's house in São Luís, Maranhão on June 1, 1953. Her father is José Sarney and her mother is Marly Sarney.

Sarney family The Sarney family has been described as the "omnipresent political clan" of Maranhão, ruling under José Sarney. Descended from plantation owners, Sarney was an intellectual and businessman affiliated with the ARENA military dictatorship.

Education Roseana Sarney was educated at the Escola Normal do Maranhão, in São Luís, and, in Brasília, at Colégio Sacré-Coeur de Marie and at Colégio Pré-Universitário. In 1965, she studied at the College of the Marists in Portugal.

Political career

Federal Deputy (1991–1994) Sarney became a member of the Liberal Front Party of her father José Sarney, running for Federal Deputy of Maranhão in 1990. Elected with 44,785 votes, Sarney placed first out of all candidates in the state.

In the Chamber, Sarney coordinated undecided Deputies to support the impeachment of Fernando Collor de Mello, before serving as the deputy leader of the government in the Chamber from 1992 to 1994.

In the Chamber of Deputies, Sarney served on the Consumer Protection, Environment and Minorities and Economy, Industry and Commerce committees, along with being chair of the Education, Culture and Sports committee.

In 1994, Sarney resigned from the chamber to assume office as the first female governor in the history of Brazil.