Artur da Távola

Artur da Távola (January 3, 1936 Rio de Janeiro - May 9, 2008 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro) was a Brazilian politician, former Senator, journalist and writer. His real name was Paulo Alberto Moretzsohn Monteiro de Barros as he used Artur da Távola as a pseudonym.[1]

Távola began his career as a journalist and writer. He authored twenty-three books during the course of his career.[1] He did not enter politics until 1960.[1] He was forced into exile in Bolivia and Chile from 1964 until 1968 due to Brazil's military dictatorship, which remained in power from 1964 until 1985.[1] Távola adopted his well known pseudonym "Artur da Tavola," which was a reference to King Arthur.[1] His adopted name allowed him to resume his career in journalism while the military dictatorship was still in power.[1]

Távola returned to politics following the end of military rule in 1985. He participated in the 1988 constituent assembly and served as a federal deputy from 1987 until 1995.[1] He was elected to the Brazilian Senate from Rio de Janeiro in 1994 and took office in 1995.[1] He remained in office in the Senate until 2002.[1]

Távola was a founding member of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), which governed the country from 1995 until 2002.[1] However, Távola formally left the Brazilian Social Democracy Party in 1999 as the result of a dispute with Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso.[1] Távola accused Cardoso, who was another founder of the PSDB, of abandoning the party's social democracy ideals for more conservative policies.[1]

Artur da Távola died of heart disease in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, at the age of 72 on May 9, 2008.[1]

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