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Luis Souza: Difference between revisions
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→Early life
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| nationality = Esteiran
| party = [[Esteiran People's Party]]
| spouse = Andréa Simões <br>(m. 1970; div.
| relations =
| children = 5
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Souza was born on July 19, 1952 to a wealthy political family in Matondao. He is the son of Benedita Valente (1930-2006) and Victor Fortunato Souza (1925-1993). Souza's father was a powerful local political leader who was mayor of Matondao from 1961-1971 and governor of Alvelongo from 1971-1981. His father ran for president in the [[1981 Esteiran presidential election|1981 presidential elections]] but lost to [[Vicente Cerqueira]]. His mother was a political scientist and taught at the University of Alvelongo. Souza's siblings are Herberto (born 1950) and Helena (born 1959); both hold positions within the Esteiran government.
Souza grew up in his home town of Matondao, and lived in the Mayor's House from ages 9 to 18 while his father was mayor. He briefly lived in the Governor's Mansion when his father became governor of Alvelongo Department. Souza married his childhood sweetheart Andréa Simões in 1970 and both of them moved to Porto Verde to attend the university there. They divorced in 1977 and have one child together.
Souza joined the Esteiran People's Party Youth Wing while in college, establishing himself as a vocal member; he would go on to lead the University of Porto Verde's PPE chapter. He graduated from the University of Porto Verde in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in political science.
==Military and early political career==
With his father's help, Souza ran and successfully won his first election, joining the National People's Assembly as the Representative for Matandao, District 2. Souza sponsored several pieces of legislation, including establishing a minimum wage and several workers protection laws. His popularity among the PPE and with some right-leaning members of the [[National Liberal Party of Esteira|National Liberal Party]] gained him the Speaker position in 1987. He would hold both his seat in the Assembly and the position of Speaker until his election to president in 1991.
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