José Richa (11 September 1934 – 17 December 2003) was a Brazilian politician who served as a senator of the state of

Paraná Paraná, Paranã or Parana may refer to: Geology * Paraná Basin, a sedimentary basin in South America Places In Argentina *Paraná, Entre Ríos, a city * Paraná Department, a part of Entre Ríos Province In Brazil *Paraná (state), a state ...

from 1987 to 1995, earlier having served as governor from 1983 to 1986. Prior to serving these positions, he was the mayor of

Londrina Londrina (, literally "Little London") is a city located in the north of the state of Paraná (state), Paraná, South Region, Brazil, and is 388 km (241 miles) away from the state capital, Curitiba. It is the second largest city in the state and f ...

from 1973 to 1977, and a federal deputy from the state from 1962 to 1970. After being one of the founding members of the

Brazilian Democratic Movement The Brazilian Democratic Movement (, MDB) is a Brazilian political party. It is considered a " big tent party" and it is one of the parties with the greatest representation throughout the national territory, with the most numbers of senators, ...

(MDB), he later became one of the founding members of the

Brazilian Social Democracy Party The Brazilian Social Democracy Party (, PSDB), also known as the Brazilian Social Democratic Party or the Party of Brazilian Social Democracy,. is a Centre-right politics, centre-right political party in Brazil. As the formerly third largest p ...

(PSDB) and was a member of the party until his death in 2003. His son, Beto Richa, later became the governor of Paraná after having been mayor of the capital

Curitiba Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná (state), Paraná in Southern Brazil. The city's population was 1,773,718 , making it the List of cities in Brazil by population, eighth most populous city in Brazil and the larg ...

Biography

Richa was born in

São Fidélis São Fidélis () is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, secon ...

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

to Assad Richa and Ana Miguel Richa, both immigrants from

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

. He moved to Paraná in his youth, where he graduated with a degree in

odontology Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of ...

from the

Federal University of Paraná The Federal University of Paraná (, UFPR) is a public university headquartered in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. UFPR is considered to be one of the oldest universities in Brazil. UFPR ranks as 37th best university in Latin-America and it is among ...

in 1959. He was married to Arlete Vilela, with whom he had three children, including Beto Richa. Richa was a president of the Students' Union of Paraná from 1957 to 1958, and served as an official of the cabinet of governor

Moisés Lupion Moisés Wille Lupion de Troia (March 25, 1908 — August 29, 1991) was a Brazilian accountant, businessman, and politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective positi ...

from 1961 to 1962. In 1962, he was elected a federal deputy from Paraná from the

Christian Democratic Party __NOTOC__ Christian democratic parties are political parties that seek to apply Christian principles to public policy. The underlying Christian democracy movement emerged in 19th-century Europe, largely under the influence of Catholic social tea ...

(PDC). After the 1964 coup d'état, he became one of the founding members of the MDB. He was reelected in 1966. In 1970 he was a candidate for senator, later becoming the mayor of the city of Londrina from 1973 to 1977. In 1982, he was elected governor, during which time he built various social projects and became engaged in the

Diretas Já (, ''Direct (Elections) Now'') was a 1984 civil movement in Brazil which demanded direct presidential elections. Participants The movement brought together diverse elements of Brazilian society. Participants came from a broad spectrum of poli ...

movement. In early May 1986, he resigned as governor in order to run again for a vacant seat for senator. He left the now PMDB in 1988 to co-create the PSDB. He again ran for governor of Paraná but came in third place. He remained in his seat as senator until 1995, when he restarted his business activities. Richa died in 2003. The local airport in Londrina, as well as a

hydroelectric plant Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and also mo ...

in rural Paraná, bear his name.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richa, José 1934 births 2003 deaths Brazilian people of Lebanese descent Rio de Janeiro (state) politicians People from São Fidélis People from Londrina Christian Democratic Party (Brazil) politicians Brazilian Democratic Movement politicians Brazilian Social Democracy Party politicians Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil) from Paraná Governors of Paraná (state) Members of the Federal Senate (Brazil) Federal University of Paraná alumni