Telma de Souza, former mayor of Santos and PT founder, dies at 82
A graduate of Cásper Líbero in journalism, with a postgraduate degree in political marketing and electoral propaganda from USP. He covered the Beijing Olympics in China for ESPN in 2008. He also worked for Metrópoles, InfoMoney, O Antagonista, iG, and Terra, covering politics and economy. He served as a press advisor in the Chamber of Deputies and the Ministry of Culture. He is the author of the books “Dias: a Vida do Maior Jogador do São Paulo nos Anos 1960” and “20 Jogos Eternos do São Paulo”.
TL;DR
- Telma de Souza, former mayor of Santos and a founder of the PT, died at 82 on October 10, 2026.
- She passed away due to health complications, including cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure, after being hospitalized.
- De Souza was a founding member of the PT in 1980 and had a political career spanning several decades.
- Her public service included terms as a city councilwoman, state deputy, federal deputy, and mayor of Santos.
- Her work as mayor was noted for national references in areas like anti-psychiatric reform, AIDS prevention, polyclinics, and protection of port workers.