21 Facts About Luiz Gushiken

Luiz Gushiken was a Brazilian union leader and politician.

Luiz Gushiken was formerly the head of the social communication office of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration, a position which carried a ministerial rank.

Luiz Gushiken was a second-generation Japanese-Brazilian, with Ryukyuan parents from Okinawa.

Luiz Gushiken broke with this international current to work closely with Lula in the PT.

Luiz Gushiken worked at Banespa bank and was associated with unions.

Luiz Gushiken was elected a federal deputy in the Congress three times, from 1987 to 1998, and was the coordinator of the presidential campaigns for Lula in 1989 and 1998.

Luiz Gushiken was born in the small town of Osvaldo Cruz and was the first-born son of seven children of the photographer and violinist Shoei and Setsu Gushiken, Japanese immigrants from Okinawa.

Luiz Gushiken lived in the Bras suburb of the city and began to work as a bank clerk at the Sao Paulo State Bank, where he stayed until 1999.

Luiz Gushiken began his political life as a union leader and participated intensely in the strikes of the 1980s during the military dictatorship.

Luiz Gushiken presided over the Sao Paulo Banker's Union from 1984 to 1986.

Luiz Gushiken was arrested four times by the military regime's Department for Political and Social Order.

Luiz Gushiken was one of the founders of the Brazilian Workers' Party and the Unified Worker's Centre, in addition to being one of its leaders.

Luiz Gushiken was a member of the Camara dos Deputados do Brasil for three consecutive parliamentary terms from 1987 until 1999, and presidential campaign coordinator for Lula in 1989 and 1998.

Luiz Gushiken was the head of the Secretaria de Comunicacao Social, part of the Presidency of Brazil.

In 2005, Gushiken was accused - and defended himself - in ongoing lawsuits at the Court of Accounts of the Union and at the Supreme Federal Court.

Luiz Gushiken left SeCom and lost the rank of minister, assuming the position as Chief of the Center for Strategic Affairs.

Luiz Gushiken permanently left the government in 2006, shortly after Lula's reelection.

Luiz Gushiken distinguished himself in his defense of PREVI during the privatizations promoted by the Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration, when the fund was used to incorporate consortiums of foreign corporations in auctions of the iron and steel, electric and telephone service sectors.

Luiz Gushiken was the target of relentless media campaigns, suffering frequent accusations - none of which were ever proven - related to the use of SeCom funds.

Luiz Gushiken was accused of being part of a cash-for-votes scandal, known as the Mensalao Scandal, after which he was demoted and left the government soon thereafter.

Ex-Minister of the Supreme Federal Court Jose Dirceu later commented that Luiz Gushiken's indictment was "one of the great injustices of the [Mensalao scandal]" and "with no regard for the presumption of innocence".