Zoe Martínez is the first Cuban female councilwoman in Brazil

October 16, 2024

Cuban Zoe Martínez, a candidate for the Liberal Party (PL), became the first woman born on the Island to win a seat as councilwoman in Brazil, specifically in Sao Paulo, in the municipal elections that took place on October 6, in which the ruling Workers' Party (PT) was relegated.

According to the Brazilian media outlet Folha de Sao Paulo, Martínez obtained 60,272 votes, which placed her in the 13th position among the most voted candidates.

The "Cubanita," as the 25-year-old political commentator is known in Brazil, had strong support from former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro (2019-2022).

Zoe Martínez, who arrived in the South American giant at age 12 and formalized her candidacy for the municipal elections before the Military Association of the state in July, is a strong critic of the Cuban regime.

In 2022, the young woman gained repercussion when she gave a lesson to Brazilian journalist César Calejon, who refused to acknowledge that a dictatorship exists in Cuba during a broadcast of Joven Pan's Morning Program.

"Cuba has nothing to export to the world," Martínez stated. "The Cuban dictatorship destroyed Cuba. My family left little by little, first my father, then my mother, then my sister and I… it was a family separation that lasted seven years, fleeing that dictatorship," she lectured the left-wing Brazilian, who defended himself with the argument that the Cuban was "too young" and had not finished graduating.

"You can try to belittle me, but my knowledge of the subject is superior to yours," the Cuban retorted.

The October 6 municipal elections showed the consolidation in Brazil of conservative and center political forces, within which the historic election of Cuban Zoe Martínez would be framed.

The Liberal Party, which Martínez represents and is led by former president Jair Bolsonaro, received the largest number of votes (15.7 million), almost double that of the Workers' Party, which obtained 8.9 million.

The PT, of left-wing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, aligned with the Cuban regime, had a slight recovery of 28% more votes than four years ago in the previous municipal elections, but was relegated.

Ahead, in addition to the PL, were the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), União Brasil, and Progressives.

The PT has been battered for several years by a credibility crisis, after its top leadership became involved in various cases of corruption.

"Brazil is at a moment of political reconfiguration. The consolidation of center-right parties and the persistent influence of polarizing figures like Bolsonaro and Lula mark a tense and competitive electoral landscape heading into the 2026 presidential elections," projected analyst Zovatto, when consulted by DIARIO DE CUBA.

"The relevance of these municipal elections, according to analysts, is that they are considered the starting gun for the presidential race, in voting that will take place in two years, but for which Lula da Silva has already hinted at the possibility of running again in 2026, despite that he will be 81 years old by then," noted journalist Ignacio Rodríguez in an article published in this outlet.