Romario Unveils Governorship Bid

Former football star and Brazilian senator Romario on  Saturday has launched aspirations for the  governorship post of the state of Rio de Janeiro, majoring on the challenges of Violence as his core agenda for the campaign.

“In these chaotic times, change is necessary, change is urgent… Rio always had safety problems, but never like now,” the 52-year-old said as he proclaimed his candidacy for the centrist party Podemos, for which he was elected federal deputy in 2010 and senator in 2014.

Now, he wished to govern Rio de Janeiro, a state that is on the verge of bankruptcy, and where violence is the order of the order of the day, prompting the military to take charge of security.

“I don’t have experience of being in charge. It will be, God willing, the first time that I’ve had the opportunity to demonstrate all I have learned in my life,” he said, accompanied by ex-teammate Bebeto, Alvaro Hias, a senator, and Renata Abreu, party president and federal deputy.

The 1994 World Cup champion and ex-Barcelona star has stood out in congress for his support for disabled people – one of his daughters has Down Syndrome – and he recently published a book hitting out at corruption in football.