Ciro Gomes

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Ciro Ferreira Gomes (born Pindamonhangaba, 6 November 1957) is a Brazilian lawyer and politician. He was a founding member of the center-left PSDB, until 1996. He latter moved to the PPS and was the PPS presidential candidate in 1998 and 2002. He supported Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the second round, and was chosen to be the Minister for National Integration in his new government. When the PPS left the government, he chosed to stay and moved to the PSB. In 2006 he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies with the highest percentage ever achieved by a single candidate in a proportional election - 16,7%.

He is also married to famous soap actress Patricia Pillar.

[edit] History

Ciro Gomes became governor of the Brazilian northeastern state of Ceara in 1990, at the age of 32. The four years he spent as governor was known to many as a great economic and social reform from a poverty stricken state. He attracted much international investment, aldo Unicef praised him for cutting infant mortality by a third.

He also famously built a water canal 71 miles long in only 90 days to Fortaleza, the capital, to advert a water supply crisis.

In 1994 he was elected finance minister at a crucial time when the Real Plan was underway as an economic stabilization program. He briefly curbed a surge in inflation, helping Fernando Henrique Cardoso win the election.

[edit] Criticism

Ciro Gomes has been known to be very left of center and has had a quick temper in the past.