Romeo Jucá
PEOPLE PROFILE is published every Tuesday and describes the professional background of key people emerging in the political and economic scenario.
Who is Romeo Jucá?
He is a senator from the Brazilian state of Roraima. The state is at the heart of the Amazonian region of the country. He is one of the main leaders of the swing parties in the Brazilian congress, the Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro (PMDB).
Why watch him?
He is the PMDB’s leader in the Brazilian senate and thus is a key ally for the government. President Lula and his Partido dos Trabalhadores emerged as the biggest party in the lower chamber of congress, but with a weaker position in the senate. The PMDB has supported the government’s key reforms to tax and pensions in the lower chamber and is behaving constructively in the senate where the bills are now being considered.
Jucá is one of the most prominent proponents of sustainable development in Amazonia. He has supported indigenous communities against loggers and other quick-buck merchants.
The File
Born: 30 November 1954.
Place of birth: Recife, Pernambuco.
Education:
Economics degree from Universidad Católica de Pernambuco and mining engineering degree from the Universidad Federal de Pernambuco
Married to Teresa Saenz Surita Jucá, with four children: Luciana, Ana Paula, Rodrigo and Marina.
Public life:
His career has been based around federal institutions in a neglected Amazonian region. He spent 10 years building up relations with the federal government for the area for which he is now senator. He is close to former President José Sarney
Timeline
1979: Chief of staff in the housing department in Pernambuco, nominated by the then-governor, Marco Maciel.
1983: Director of special programmes in the housing department in the state of Pernambuco: he managed state programmes to refurbish slums and villages.
1984: Regional sales manager for the northeast for COBAL, the state basic food company, covering the states of Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco and Paraíba.
1984: Worked as policy coordinator in the mayor’s office in Recife.
1984: Member of urban services committee in Recife
1985: President of the “Projeto RONDON”, nominated by the President.
1985: Executive secretary of the interministerial committee on education and development.
1986: President of the Fundação Nacional del Indio - FUNAI, nominated by President José Sarney.
1988: Governor of the federal territory of Roraima, nominated by President Sarney.
1992: Director of supply at the Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento - CONAB, which is part of the agriculture and agricultural reform ministries.
1994: Senator for the state of Roraima.
Strong points
He is known in Roraima as a strong defender of indigenous peoples and their interests and of the environment. He advocates strong and careful controls on the way Amazonian areas are developed. Across the country he also has a high profile as a defender of indigenous peoples’ rights.
Weak points
He is accused of being an opportunist on the environment. He has made political capital from high profile confrontations with Brazilian and international companies interested in exploiting the riches of Amazonia.
Prospects
He commands a lot of key votes from the PMDB, which the government needs. His profile is rising and his influence is waxing. His support of the Amazon’s indigenous people has given him national recognition. He could well get one of the cabinet posts, in one of the development ministries, which Lula will offer to the PMDB towards the end of the year.