- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

'Brazilian Mary Magdalene': 32-Year Old Brazilian Prostitute Elected Deputy

© AFP 2023 / VALERY HACHEA prostitute waits for clients in a street
A prostitute waits for clients in a street - Sputnik International
Subscribe
A small Brazilian city, Manacapuru, recently made headlines after a local prostitute, Francisca da Silva, was elected deputy to the local municipality.

The candidacy of the 32-year-old Silva was put forward by local residents as a sign of protest against the city's mayor Jaziel Tororó.

The dissatisfaction of the locals was, in particular, connected with the poor work of municipal medical institutions, delays in salaries payments and a poor sewage system that has created unbearable conditions for the local population.

"The city used to be called the Pearl of the river of Solimoes. Would you call it so now?" local driver Valdemir Santana told Folha de São Paulo newspaper.

The full moon is pictured behind the Christ the Redeemer statue ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 19, 2016 - Sputnik International
Rio's Iconic Christ the Redeemer Suffering for Sins of Brazilian Economic Crisis
Santana was one of the initiators suggesting Silva for the deputy post. At first, it was rather a joke, but Silva surprisingly ranked fourth in the local election gaining more than 1,000 votes (with about $47 being spent for the whole election campaign).

Her victory has drastically changed Silva's life. The woman who started working as a prostitute when she was 11 earned about 3 per client. Starting next week, her salary will be about $2,300.

Silva currently lives with her parents and three children aged 6 to 10 years in a hut with wooden walls and a zinc roof. After her election, she promised to distribute free food for prostitutes on the streets and compared herself to Mary Magdalene.

"Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, but the Lord gave her the opportunity to change her life. Why shouldn't I be able to do it as well? I'm just an ordinary woman, too," Silva said.

According to Santana, many voters do not expect that Silva will significantly improve the life in the city. However, some still believe that she might be full of surprises.

Never miss a story again — sign up to our Telegram channel and we'll keep you up to speed!

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала