Arolde de Oliveira


Arolde de Oliveira is a Brazilian politician, as well as an economist, engineer, and captain in the Brazilian military. Although born in Rio Grande do Sul, he has spent his political career representing Rio de Janeiro, having served as federal deputy for nine consecutive terms from 1986 to 2019 and federal senator since 2019.

Personal life

Born to Horácio de Oliveira and Margarida Barbosa Gonçalves, Oliveira was the oldest of 6 children. Born to an poor family, Oliveira moved to Porto Alegre to attend high school, and then stayed in the city to attend military school. He then moved to Resende in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Oliveira attained the rank of captain in the military, and afterwards remained in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where he briefly worked as an economists and engineer before entering politics. He met his future wife Yvelise while stationed in Resende, with whom he has two children.
Oliveira is a devout Baptist who has campaigned for evangelical issues while in office. Because of his faith, Oliveira is opposed to Same-sex marriage.

Political career

Oliveira voted in favor of the impeachment against then-president Dilma Rousseff. Oliveira voted in favor of the Brazil labor reform, and would later back Rousseff's successor Michel Temer against a similar impeachment motion.
In the 2018 election Oliveira was one of 6 new evangelical and Protestant politicians elected to the federal senate. Oliveira is strongly opposed to communism and same-sex marriage.