Mayor Benedito 'Biu' de Lira, Father of Chamber President Arthur Lira, Dies in Maceió at 82

Jan 14, 2025, 01:26 PM

Benedito de Lira, former Senator and current Mayor of Barra de São Miguel in Alagoas, Brazil, died in Maceió on Tuesday at the age of 82. He was the father of Arthur Lira, the President of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. Known affectionately as 'Biu', Benedito de Lira had been hospitalized since undergoing surgery on December 31 and was being treated for cancer. He was re-elected as mayor in the last election but was unable to attend his own inauguration due to his health. His passing has led to condolences from numerous political figures, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who described him as an 'active and important voice of the people of Alagoas.' The Government of Alagoas has declared three days of official mourning. Arthur Lira paid tribute to his father, describing him as his 'reference' and 'hero' and expressing a profound sense of loss: 'A feeling of emptiness, pain, and deep sadness fills my heart and that of our family.'