“Cláudio Castro as a terrorist”says a flag raised by the residents of Rio de Janeiro as a protest for the brutal anti-drug operation against him Red Command which left more than 130 dead in the state. How does a singer become governor of a state that this week was home to one of the most brutal armed conflicts in the history of Brazil?
In the current turbulent Brazilian political scene, the figure of Cláudio Castro emerges, an unexpected governor with a past as a Catholic musician who today leads the state.
People hold a sign against the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Claudio Castro, this Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Photo: EFEKnown for his appearances at mass, his voice at religious events and his rise from councilor to governor in just a few yearslocal media claim that Castro represents a mix between evangelism, traditional politics and modernization in the Brazilian southeast.
Who is Claudio Castro?
Cláudio Bomfim de Castro e Silva He was born on March 29, 1979 in Santos, in the state of São Paulo, but moved to Rio de Janeiro as a child.
He graduated in Law from Federal University of Río de Janeiro (UFRJ) and, according to his biographical profiles, he also obtained postgraduate studies.
From a young age he was linked to the Catholic faith and religious music: he is the author of at least two albums of Catholic music and an active member of the community of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR).
His move into politics
His political career began in 2004 as chief of staff of a municipal councilor, then in the state Legislative Assembly, and in 2016 he managed to access the Municipal Chamber of Rio de Janeiro as a councilor.
In 2018 he was elected lieutenant governor of the state in the formula that he headed Wilson Witzelfor the PSC party, with a wide margin of victory.
Castro (L) with the former president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro (R). Photo: REUTERSIn August 2020, when Witzel was removed due to impeachment, Castro took office as interim until finally, on May 1, 2021, he became effective governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro.
The “singing” and Catholic role
What sets him apart from many traditional politicians is his background as a Catholic musician. Behind the technical figure of lawyer and official, Castro maintains an active practice in religious music —something uncommon at the top of state power in Brazil.
Videos that are still available on his YouTube channel show him in full artistic practice and several have thousands of views.
This profile allowed him to connect with growing evangelical-Catholic sectors in Brazil, and present an image of a politician “of faith” who speaks in religious settings, sings, participates in retreats of the Charismatic Renewal, in addition to holding public office.
His main axes as governor
Castro took over a state with enormous challenges: public insecurity—one of Rio’s central crises—fiscal collapse, deficient infrastructure, and the legacy of scandals from the previous government.
In terms of politics, his affiliation changed in 2021 to Liberal Party (PL) after having served in the PSC. His government was marked by strong presence of security as a central themebut also due to criticism in the field of human rights and transparency.
According to information, is under investigation for irregularities in public contracts during the pandemic.
His political rise was rapid, almost meteoricwhich reinforces the perception of an unconventional figure: from advisor, to councilor, to lieutenant governor, to governor in a few years, with the background of Catholic music behind it.
