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BRA | May 16, 2021

São Paulo Mayor Bruno Covas loses cancer battle, aged 41

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FILE PHOTO: Bruno Covas, mayor of São Paulo, celebrates his re-election during the municipal elections in São Paulo, Brazil, November 29, 2020. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

BRASILIA (Reuters) – Bruno Covas, the 41-year old mayor of Brazil’s largest city and financial hub São Paulo, has died of cancer, the Sirio-Libanes Hospital where he was being treated confirmed on Sunday (May 16).

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum for Covas, who followed in the political footsteps of his grandfather Mario Covas, who served as both mayor and governor of São Paulo.

“Bruno Covas’ strength came from his character and the example he set. He was loyal to his family, friends, the people of Sao Paulo and the members of his party, the PSDB,” said São Paulo state Governor João Doria in a statement, referring to the Brazilian Social Democratic Party.

“His determination and work are an inspiration to us all,” he said.

Covas was Doria’s running mate in the 2016 São Paulo race for mayor and replaced him in April 2018 when Doria became governor.

He had already been diagnosed with cancer when he won re-election in November last year. He tested positive for COVID-19 last year and made a full recovery.

FILE PHOTO: Bruno Covas, mayor of São Paulo, celebrates his re-election during the municipal elections in São Paulo, Brazil, November 29, 2020. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Covas’ win in November boosted Doria, an increasingly thorny adversary of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

The two have repeatedly clashed over the COVID-19 pandemic and Doria plans to seek his party’s nomination for president in 2022.

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