Roseana Sarney

Roseana Sarney
Roseana Sarney
	Sarney in 2024
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 1 February 2023
Constituency	Maranhão
	In office; 1 February 1991 – 16 December 1994
Constituency	Maranhão
Governor of Maranhão
	In office; 17 April 2009 – 10 December 2014
Vice Governor	João Alberto de Souza; Washington Oliveira
Preceded by	Jackson Lago
Succeeded by	Arnaldo Melo
	In office; 1 January 1995 – 5 April 2002
Vice Governor	José Reinaldo Tavares
Preceded by	Ribamar Fiquene
Succeeded by	José Reinaldo Tavares
Senator for Maranhão
	In office; 1 February 2003 – 17 April 2009
Personal details
Born	1 June 1953 (age 71); São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
Political party	MDB (2006–present)
Other political; affiliations	PFL (1990–2006)
Spouse	Jorge Murad Júnior (m. 1976)
Parents	José Sarney (father); Marly Sarney (mother);
Relatives	Adriano Sarney (niece); Fernando Sarney (brother); Sarney Filho (brother);
Alma mater	University of Brasília

Roseana Sarney Murad (born 1 June 1953) is a Brazilian politician and sociologist, who previously served as the Governor of Maranhão from 1995 to 2002 and from 2009 to 2014. Sarney served as a Senator from 2003 to 2009^[1] and a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1991 to 1994 and from 2023 to present.^[2] A member of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), Sarney is the daughter of former President and senator José Sarney.^[3]

Sarney considered running for president in 2002,^[4] but a corruption scandal led to her withdrawal from the race on 15 April 2002.^[5]

Early life and family

Roseana was born at her maternal grandfather's house in São Luís, Maranhão on June 1, 1953. Her father is José Sarney and her mother is Marly Sarney.^[6]

Sarney family

The Sarney family has been described as the "omnipresent political clan" of Maranhão, ruling under José Sarney. Descended from plantation owners, Sarney was an intellectual and businessman affiliated with the ARENA military dictatorship.^[3] He acquired in 1972 the newspaper Jornal do Dia, which was later rebranded as O Estado do Maranhão.^[6] The media business expanded into an empire called the Mirante Group, now an affiliate of TV Globo, the world's second largest broadcasting corporation.^[7]

Education

Roseana Sarney was educated at the Escola Normal do Maranhão, in São Luís, and, in Brasília, at Colégio Sacré-Coeur de Marie and at Colégio Pré-Universitário.^[8] In 1965, she studied at the College of the Marists in Portugal.^[1]

In 1970, Sarney was educated in Social Sciences at the University of Brasília before serving as an advisor to NOVACAP, a state urbanization company for the Federal District from 1974 to 1976.^[8]

In 1976, Sarney moved to São Paulo, after marrying Jorge Murad, continuing her studies at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, graduating in 1978 with a major in political science and sociology. Following her education, Sarney served as Extraordinary Secretary of the State of Maranhão for Governor Luís Rocha from 1983 to 1984, before serving as Parliamentary Advisor to the Civil Cabinet of the President of Brazil from 1985 to 1989.^[2]

In 1986, Sarney was made an officer of the Order of Prince Henry of Portugal.^[9]

Political career

Federal Deputy (1991–1994)

Sarney became a member of the Liberal Front Party of her father José Sarney, running for Federal Deputy of Maranhão in 1990. Elected with 44,785 votes, Sarney placed first out of all candidates in the state.^[6]

In the Chamber, Sarney coordinated undecided Deputies to support the impeachment of Fernando Collor, before serving as the deputy leader of the government in the Chamber from 1992 to 1994.^[2]

In the Chamber of Deputies, Sarney served on theConsumer Protection, Environment and Minorities and Economy, Industry and Commerce committees, along with being chair of the Education, Culture and Sports committee.^[2]

In 1994, Sarney resigned the chamber to assume office as the first female governor in the history of Brazil.