Antonio Mecias Pereira de Jesus (born 8 February 1962) more commonly known as Mecias de Jesus is a federal senator of Brazil representing the state of Roraima. He previously served in the state legislature from 1995 to 2019.[1]
Personal life
de Jesus was born in Graça Aranha.[1] Prior to becoming a politician, Marcos Rogério worked as a financial adviser.[1] In his youth he also worked as a shoeshine, farmer, waiter and gardener.[2] His son Johnathan de Jesus is also a politician, being elected to the federal chamber of deputies in 2010.[1] Unlike most PRB politicians who belong to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, de Jesus and his family belong to the Nova Vida Baptist church.[3]
Political career
In 2017 de Jesus proposed a bill that would exempt churches from paying water, electricity, and telephone taxes in Roraima.[4] The bill caused some controversy as Brazil is officially a secular state and was eventually not passed.
de Jesus is the president of the PRB party in the state of Roraima.[2]
In the 2018 Brazilian general election de Jesus was elected to the federal senate with 85,366 votes.[2] He was one of six new Evangelical members elected to the federal senate in that election.[5]
