Flávio José Arns (born 9 November 1950) is a federal senator of Brazil representing his home state of Paraná.[1] He was previously vice-governor of Paraná from 2011 to 2015, and also served in the chamber of deputies from 1991 to 2003.[2]

Flávio Arns
Arns in 2019
Senator for Paraná
Assumed office
1 February 2019
In office
1 February 2003 – 1 February 2011
Vice Governor of Paraná
In office
1 January 2011 – 1 January 2015
GovernorBeto Richa
Preceded byOrlando Pessuti
Succeeded byCida Borghetti
Secretary for Strategic Affairs of Paraná
In office
1 January 2015 – 8 June 2017
GovernorBeto Richa
Secretary of Education of Paraná
In office
1 January 2011 – 3 April 2014
GovernorBeto Richa
Federal Deputy for Paraná
In office
1 February 1991 – 31 January 2003
Director of Special Education of Paraná
In office
1983–1990
Personal details
Born (1950-11-09) 9 November 1950 (age 73)
Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Political partyPSB (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations
  • PSDB (1988–2001; 2009–17)
  • PT (2001–09)
  • REDE (2018–20)
  • PODE (2020–23)
ProfessionEducator

Personal life

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Arns was born to Osvaldo Arns and Teresinha Mohr.[2] Of German descent, he is grandson of Gabriel Arns and Helene Steiner. Brought up in a religious Catholic family, he is related to important Brazilian religious figuers Zilda Arns and Paulo Evaristo Arns, being the nephew of the former and grand-cousin of the latter. He is married Odenise Teresinha Arns, with whom he had two children: Caroline Arns and Osvaldo Arns Neto.[3]

Arns graduated from Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in 1972, and the following years graduated with a degree in law from Federal University of Paraná.[2] In 1980 he graduated with a PhD. in Linguistics with his thesis focusing on language and behavior from Northwestern University in the United States.[4]

Political career

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Arns served as director of education for individuals with special needs from 1983 to 1990.[3] He then elected to and served in the Chamber of Deputies for three consecutive terms from 1991 to 2003.[2] He then served as vice governor for Beto Richa in his home state of Paraná as well as holding various positions in the state government.[2] In the 2018 Brazilian general election Arns was one of two members from Paraná, the other being Oriovisto Guimarães, to contest elections in the national senate, where he was elected.[5] Following him taking seat in the senate he was elected vice chair of the Commission on Education, Culture and Sport.[6][7]

Arns voted against the impeachment of then-president Dilma Rousseff.[8][9]

A strong supporter of the rights of those with autism and other developmental disabilities, in September 2016 Arns was recognized by the senate of Paraná for his political activism.[10]

Arns has faced some controversy for allegedly hiring Rosângela Wolff, the wife of judge Sergio Moro, as a legal adviser in 2015. Judges are prohibited to communicate with active politicians in Brazil, and Wolff denied that she ever formally worked for Arns.[11]

On 31 August 2020 Arns announced that he had left the Sustainability Network and joined the Podemos party in the Brazilian senate.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Senador Flávio Arns — PR" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e "FLÁVIO ARNS – Biografia". Câmara dos Deputados do Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Verbete Flavio José Arns" (in Portuguese). FGV - CPDOC. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  4. ^ ARNS, Flávio José. Joint problem solving activity in adult-child dyadz: a cross-cultural study. Evanston, Illinois, USA: University Northwestern, 1981. Thesis (Doctorate)
  5. ^ "Professor Oriovisto Guimarães e Flávio Arns eleitos pelo Paraná para o Senado" (in Portuguese). Senado Notícias. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Arns eleito para Comissão de Educação, Cultura e Esporte do Senado" (in Portuguese). Academia Paranaense de Letras. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Flávio Arns é eleito vice-presidente da Comissão de Educação, Cultura e Esporte". Das Assessorias (in Portuguese). Diário dos Campos. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Impeachment: saiba como votou cada partido" [Impeachment: Know how voted each party] (in Portuguese). EBC. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Votação pela proibição de exercer cargos públicos" [Voting for to bar on holding public office for eight years]. O Globo (in Portuguese). 31 August 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  10. ^ "Flávio Arns recebe comenda no Senado Federal" [Flávio Arns receives commendation in the Federal Senate] (in Portuguese). Agência de Notícias do Paraná. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Esposa do juiz Sérgio Moro nega ter sido advogada de partidos políticos" (in Portuguese). Paraná Portal. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  12. ^ Said, Flávia (31 August 2020). "Senador Flávio Arns deixa a Rede e reforça bancada do Podemos" (in Portuguese). Congresso em Foco. Retrieved 29 October 2020.