Overview
José Maria Eymael (born 2 November 1939) is a Brazilian politician, lawyer and entrepreneur who founded the party known in Portuguese as Democracia Cristã (DC). He is best known for combining a professional career in law and business with long-term involvement in national and municipal electoral politics.
Early life and professional background
Eymael was born in Porto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. He trained as a lawyer and later engaged in private-sector activities, developing a profile that blended legal practice with commercial enterprise. His origins in Porto Alegre are frequently noted when describing his regional ties and early networks within southern Brazil; the city itself is identified as Porto Alegre in many biographical accounts.
Political career and elected office
Eymael was active in politics from the transition to democracy in Brazil in the 1980s. He ran for mayor of São Paulo in 1985 and again in 1992, campaigns that raised his public profile though he did not win the municipal office. On the national level he was elected to the federal Chamber of Deputies in the elections of 1986 and 1990, serving as a member of the lower house of the National Congress and participating in legislative activity at a time of institutional reconfiguration following the end of military rule. His time in office is commonly summarized by references to the Chamber of Deputies and to the broader process of democratic consolidation in Brazil.
Party, ideology and electoral campaigns
Eymael founded what is known in English as the Christian Democracy party (Democracia Cristã). The party presents itself within the broader family of Christian-democratic movements, emphasizing social policies shaped by values rooted in religious and family traditions while engaging with Brazil's electoral system as a small, ideologically focused organization. In later years Eymael continued to contest national elections: he stood as a candidate for President of Brazil in the 2018 and 2022 contests, representing his party and using these campaigns to promote DC's platform and visibility.
Electoral record (selected)
- Candidate for mayor of São Paulo: 1985, 1992.
- Elected to the Chamber of Deputies: 1986, 1990 (served two terms following those elections).
- Presidential candidate: 2018 and 2022 under the Democracia Cristã banner.
Significance and notable facts
Eymael's career illustrates several recurring features of Brazilian politics: the persistence of smaller parties with distinct ideological identities, the role of perennial candidates who repeatedly seek different offices, and the movement of professionals from law and business into elected roles. While he has not attained the highest offices he sought, his long-standing leadership of a Christian-democratic party and repeated candidacies have made him a recognizable figure in Brazil's political landscape.
For further context on Brazil's institutions and the offices Eymael has contested, see general references on the Chamber of Deputies, the National Congress, and municipal government in São Paulo.