Cláudio Castro

Brazilian lawyer and politician (born 1979)

Cláudio Castro
Castro in 2019

Governor of Rio de Janeiro
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 May 2021 Acting: 28 August 2020 – 30 April 2021
Lieutenant	Thiago Pampolha
Preceded by	Wilson Witzel
Lieutenant Governor of Rio de Janeiro
In office 1 January 2019 – 30 April 2021
Governor	Wilson Witzel
Preceded by	Francisco Dornelles
Succeeded by	Thiago Pampolha
Councillor of Rio de Janeiro
In office 1 January 2017 – 1 January 2019
Constituency	At-large

Personal details
Born	Cláudio Bomfim de Castro e Silva (1979-03-29) 29 March 1979 (age 45) Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
Political party	PL (2021–present)
Other political affiliations	PSC (2002–2021)
Spouse	Analine Costa (m. 2006)
Children	2
Parents	Clerto de Castro e Silva (father) Lúcia de Fátima Bomfim (mother)
Alma mater	Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (LL.B.) University of Salamanca (LL.M., LL.D.)

Cláudio Bomfim de Castro e Silva (born 29 March 1979) is a Brazilian lawyer and politician, former Vice Governor of Rio de Janeiro, who assumed his duties and powers as Acting Governor since the suspension of governor Wilson Witzel^[1]^[2] and current Governor of the state since Witzel's impeachment.^[3] Member of the Social Christian Party (PSC), according to historical data, he is the second youngest Vice Governor of the state in history, behind only of Roberto Silveira, who was elected at the age of 32 in the 1950s. However, he's the youngest to be elected in the state since the redemocratization.^[4] ^[5]

Biography

He moved to Rio de Janeiro as a child. In 2005, Castro graduated in Law at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). He is married and father of two children. Castro is a Roman Catholic singer and musician.

Political experience

In 2004, he began his political history as chief of staff of former City Councillor Márcio Pacheco, who he followed to the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro until 2016, also as chief of staff. In his office, led the organization of political projects in the defense of life, of children and teenagers in situation of risk, of people with disabilities and fight against drugs.

Cláudio Castro was also special advisor of the Municipal Secretariat of People with Disabilities. In 2013, worked as special advisor in the Chamber of Deputies, in Brasília.^[6]

In 2016, Castro was elected to the Municipal Chamber with 10,262 votes, being the 56th most voted candidate. It came after a first unsuccessful try in 2012, when he received 8,298 votes.

On 6 August 2018, the Social Christian Party (PSC) confirmed that City Councillor Cláudio Castro would be a candidate for Vice Governor of Rio de Janeiro along with federal judge Wilson Witzel,^[7] and that the party would not form any coalition.^[8]

With 59.87% (4,675,355) of the valid votes, Witzel and Castro were elected on 28 October 2018 for a four-year term, which began on 1 January 2019.^[9]^[10]

Castro was sworn in as Governor of Rio de Janeiro, after Wilson Witzel's impeachment on May 1, 2021. On 26 May 2021, Castro joined the Liberal Party.^[11]

References

^ Satie, Anna (28 August 2020). "Quem é Cláudio Castro, o cantor católico que assume o lugar de Witzel no RJ". CNN Brazil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 August 2020.
^ "Vice Cláudio Castro, que assume o governo do RJ, também é alvo de operação que apura corrupção". G1 (in Portuguese). 28 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
^ Rosa, PH; Chaves, Raíza (30 April 2021). "Witzel sofre impeachment e perde o cargo de governador do Rio". R7 (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ Satie, Anna; Barcellos, Renato. "Quem é Cláudio Castro, o novo governador do Rio de Janeiro". CNN Brasil (in Portuguese).
^ Sabóia, Gabriel (11 June 2020). "Quem é Cláudio Castro, o vice de Wilson Witzel no governo do Rio". UOL (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 August 2020.
^ Schmidt, Selma; Gaido, Rafael (2 January 2019). "Importantes órgãos da área de Transporte do governo do Rio ficarão na mão do vice de Witzel". O Globo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 August 2020.
^ "PSC-RJ anuncia vice na chapa de Wilson Witzel ao Governo do Estado". O Dia (in Portuguese). 6 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
^ "Vereador Cláudio Castro será o candidato a vice-governador na chapa de Wilson Witzel, do PSC". G1 (in Portuguese). 6 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
^ "Wilson Witzel, do PSC, é eleito governador do RJ". G1 (in Portuguese). 28 October 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
^ "Witzel toma posse e diz que assume governo do RJ por 'amor' e 'indignação'". Veja (in Portuguese). 1 January 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
^ "Na presença de Bolsonaro, governador Cláudio Castro assina filiação ao PL". UOL (in Portuguese). 26 May 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.

External links

Official website

Political offices
Vacant Title last held by Francisco Dornelles	Vice Governor of Rio de Janeiro 2019–2021 Acting Governor 2020–2021	Vacant Title next held by Thiago Pampolha
Preceded by Wilson Witzel	Governor of Rio de Janeiro 2021–present	Incumbent