Luiz Fernando Pezão

Luiz Fernando de Souza, commonly known as Luiz Fernando Pezão or even Pezão (English: Bigfoot[2]) (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.

Luiz Fernando Pezão
62nd Governor of Rio de Janeiro
In office 4 April 2014 – 1 January 2019 Suspended: 29 November 2018 – 1 January 2019[1]
Vice Governor	Francisco Dornelles
Preceded by	Sérgio Cabral
Succeeded by	Francisco Dornelles (acting)
Vice Governor of Rio de Janeiro
In office 1 January 2007 – 3 April 2014
Governor	Sérgio Cabral
Preceded by	Luiz Paulo Conde
Succeeded by	Francisco Dornelles
6th Mayor of Piraí
In office 1 January 1997 – 1 January 2005
Preceded by	Arthur Henrique Tutuca
Succeeded by	Arthur Henrique Tutuca
Personal details
Born	(1958-03-29) 29 March 1958 Piraí, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nationality	Brazilian
Political party	MDB
Spouse(s)	Maria Lúcia Jardim

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

In 2006, Pezão was chosen by Sérgio Cabral, 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.

He assumed the office of governor due to the resignation of Sérgio Cabral, 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 the senators Lindberg Farias and Marcelo Crivella.

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

In 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).[1] Pezão is accused of proceeding with corruption schemes that began during the government of Sérgio Cabral. As his term ends in 31 December 2018, Vice Governor Francisco Dornelles took office as Acting Governor.