Pedro Simon

Pedro Simon is a Brazilian lawyer, professor and politician and one of the founders of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB). Born in Caxias do Sul in 1930, he served as Brazil's Minister of Agriculture under President Jose Sarney from March 1985 to February 1986, appointed to the post at the recommendation of Tancredo Neves as the country returned to civilian rule. He was national coordinator of the Diretas Ja movement for direct elections and a leading figure of Brazil's redemocratization alongside Ulysses Guimaraes, Tancredo Neves, Franco Montoro, Teotonio Vilela, Mario Covas and Leonel Brizola. Representing Rio Grande do Sul, he was elected governor of the state as well as senator and state deputy, each for four terms, after beginning his political career as a city councilman in Caxias do Sul. He became the second longest serving senator of Brazil's New Republic era, behind only Jose Sarney.