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]
Personal life
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 figures 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 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]
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]
^"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.