Cicero Almeida, 66, has enjoyed a longer political career than he expected when he first ran as a candidate. In 2008, in the municipal elections, he stood out at the national level by being re-elected with the highest number of votes in the Brazilian capitals, obtaining 81.49% of the valid votes – this was in Maceió until 2024, João Henrique Caldas known as JHC (PL). The municipalities reached 83.25% in this year's elections.
However, sixteen years later, Cicero ran as a candidate for councilor in Maceió for the PDT, but obtained a surprising result: only 1,793 votes, which left him out of the race for the 27 seats in the Assembly. in an interview LandThis time he announced that he no longer wanted to return to political life.
Cicero began his career in radio, initially working as a host for Radio Gazzetta in 1978, but soon became interested in operating equipment and became an audio operator. “I saw people in action and said, 'Man, I want this,'” he recalled. Shortly after, he was hired by 96 FM, where he established himself as the announcer with the highest ratings of the moment.
In addition to his popularity on radio, he worked as a police reporter for 25 years, 10 of them on local television. This contact with the public made him widely known, which propelled him into political life. Cicero's first experience as a stage announcer came in 1994 during a campaign for PDT. however, He officially entered politics in 1999.When he joined the PSL and risked his television job to run.
In conversation with a journalist, he recalled the public support he received while covering police stories: “I arrived at the crime scene, there was a crowd and everyone hugged me. I became a well-known boy in a short time. This popularity was decisive for his first election. In 2000 he was elected councilor of Maceió with 7,627 votes.. Television, which first said it would not hire him again if he lost the election, later greeted him with a festive welcome.
“Later, as a councilor, I attended a project, a care clinic, mainly for women, in several departments. A whole structure that served more than 40 thousand people,” he recalled. In 2002, he was elected state vice president of the PDT.. “That's when I increased the service structure with more clinics.”
The greatest milestone in his political career was when he ran for mayor of Maceo. In 2004, Alagoas was elected mayor of the capital.. Immediately, In 2008 he was re-elected with 81.49% of the valid votes cast.. Cicero says that he always had the affection of the people. “It's a love story. Since 1994, when I started on television, 20 years have passed. He ran again in 2012 after being mayor. In 2014 he was elected federal vice president of the PRTB.He captured 64 thousand votes.
Continuous loss
2016 marked a series of political failures for Cicero. In those elections he tried to return to the mayor's office for the MDB, however, he remained He lost to Rui Palmera in the second roundRe-elected by the PSDB.
In 2018, already separated from the main political groups, he ran in the state partial elections, a position he had already held between 2002 and 2004. He could not win by obtaining only 8,405 votes. In 2020 he tried to run for mayor again, this time for the Christian Democrats, but obtained 9,905 votes. 2.7% is equivalent to two valid votes.
In 2024, when running for a seat as a councilor, Cicero Almeida said he began investing in the use of social media, which until then had not been part of his campaigns. “I received a lot of opinions on life and publications. “Nowadays I think that many candidates buy votes, I never did that,” he said.
Despite his initial success, he says Land Politics proved to be a difficult environment. He admits to having “a momentary fascination with political betrayal, even though he knew it.” According to Cicero, Politics failed him on many occasionsIn particular, he closely examined “catastrophes” and negative aspects of the environment.
Even today, the former mayor remains close to the people and says that he continues to receive love from the people. “None of the candidates received the love that I received in practice.” He emphasizes that although his love for politics has cooled, he continues to believe that he is a representative in touch with the will of the people.
“My feeling remains one of victory and I do not regret running as a candidate this year.. I have never been a political expert. A professional is a boy who studies for years. I didn't study much because I had to take care of my family and my siblings. Then I only had a second degree and I think I was an adult with a second degree along with five “diplomas”, one for a state representative, one for a councilor, two for a mayor, one for a federal representative and many other honors. I received it, I praise God and I thank him,” he said.
Thereafter, Cicero announced that he would retire from politics and pursue his career, and wished those elected success. “Now I only follow the party of JC, Jesus Christ who has always been my guide. I continue to support my city and this new generation so that they can better take care of this beautiful nation. “
