Virgílio Guimarães
Who is Virgílio Guimarães?
Guimarães is currently running for the presidency of the lower chamber of congress against his fellow party member, and the Partido dos Trabalhadores' (PT) official candidate, Luiz Eduardo Greenhalgh. The government backs Greenhalgh and has tried, without success, to persuade Guimarães to withdraw his candidacy. The vote will be held on 14 February.
Why watch him?
According to Guimarães's supporters, he has the backing of 290 congressmen, well over the 260 votes necessary to win the presidency of the lower house in the first round. Although this seems like an exaggeration, Guimarães's candidacy will certainly take the contest to a second round against Greenhalgh, for the first time since elections in congress began in 1971.
Born: 05 September 1949.
Place of Birth: Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais.
Educated: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), graduating in economics in 1974.
Timeline
1973-74: President of the Union of Students of UFMG.
1974-86: Worked as economic consultant in Belo Horizonte.
1980: Became one of the first members of the PT in Minas Gerais.
1980-92: Member of the PT's national leadership.
1983-1986: President of the Economists' Union of Minas Gerais.
1987-1990: Director of the National Economists' Federation.
1987-1991: Elected for congress, taking part in the Constitutional Assembly. Became the PT's vice-leader in the lower chamber
(1993-1994).
1993-1996: Elected for the Belo Horizonte Council. Became leader of the PT's municipal government.
1999-2003: Elected for congress. Became the PT's vice-leader in the lower chamber. 2003-2007: Re-elected for congress. Became the vice-leader of the government in congress.
Strengths
Guimarães commands much more support among his fellow party members than Greenhalgh. The PT's left-wing is openly backing Guimarães. He has also managed to win the support of members of other allied parties, such as the Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro, and the backing of opposition parties which are using the split within the PT to strengthen their position in congress.
Weaknesses
He is running against the will of the PT's leadership. Although President Lula da Silva said he would not interfere in the election, behind closed doors he confessed he could “not understand" Guimarães decision to run. Lula has tried to convince Guimarães to give up his campaign, meaning future relations will not be easy. A Guimarães presidency would also be weakened further by having to keep his opposition backers on board.
Prospects
All the signs show the contest will be the toughest ever, and a second round is almost certain. So much so that the PT's leaders will wait for the final result to decide “how to deal" with Guimarães. Either he wins, which in the case of a second round is the most likely outcome, or he loses the election and with it his party membership.