Eduardo Figueiredo Cavalheiro Leite (born 10 March 1985) is a Brazilian politician and governor of the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
[3] Alongside his position as governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Leite was the president of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party from January to November 2023.
Though unsuccessful, Leite began working for local Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) municipal politicians and, in 2009, would be elected to Pelotas city council.
During his term as mayor, Leite modernized management methods and prioritized fiscal austerity, which resulted in balanced public accounts.
He was able to guarantee funding for major infrastructure works and the remodeling of the urban mobility system, while also improving local health and education indicators.
Concerned with high incumbency rates among Brazilian politicians, Leite opted to not run for re-election, instead backing his vice-mayor, Paula Schild Mascarenhas, in her successful candidacy.
While initially reluctant, the Brazilian Democratic Movement voted to join Leite's government upon the recognition of similarities between their economic policies.
In his inauguration address, he stressed the necessity of political conciliation to overcome the economic crisis in increasingly polarized times.
[20][21][22] In September 2022, Jeffereson's conviction was definitively confirmed by Rio Grande do Sul State Court of Justice.