Who is Luciana Santos, chosen to head the Science and Technology portfolio

Luciana Santos, announced this Thursday (22) as Minister of Science and Technology in the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), is vice-governor of Pernambuco and national president of the PCdoB since 2015.

As anticipated by Sheet, his name had been gaining momentum behind the scenes. A former member of the Chamber’s Science and Technology commission, she was seen as the most quoted candidate for the portfolio, and her choice was seen as a way of responding to the PCdoB, which supported Lula during the campaign.

Born in Recife on December 29, 1965, Luciana studied electrical engineering at UFPE (Federal University of Pernambuco) and, during graduation, joined the student movement.

She was president of the Academic Directory of Engineering and Computing at UFPE, director of the Central Directory of Students and vice-president of the regional UNE (National Union of Students) in Pernambuco.

In 1992, after completing graduation, Santos ran for councilor of Olinda and achieved her first substitute position.

Two years later, she was also an alternate when running for state deputy. In 1996, she assumed the vacancy and maintained direct involvement with popular movements during her mandate.

In 1998, she was re-elected as a state deputy and, in 2000, she was elected mayor of Olinda with more than 107,000 votes. In 2004, she was re-elected in the first round, with around 122,000 votes.

From 2009 to 2010, she was State Secretary for Science, Technology and the Environment of Pernambuco, during the administration of Governor Eduardo Campos (PSB), and left the post to seek a vacancy in the Chamber of Deputies.

He had two consecutive terms in Brasília, from 2011 to 2014 and from 2015 to 2018, and presented several proposals, among them the creation of the culture voucher.

During the election period, Santos claimed the seat of candidate for the Senate for Pernambuco, but had to give up the post to Tereza Leitão (PT-PE).