Franklin Martins

Franklin de Sousa Martins (born August 10, 1948, in Vitória) is a Brazilian journalist who previously served as the Press Secretary for the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil.

He spent time in prison between October and December 1968, and despite the general amnesty in Brazil in 1979, Martins is still denied entry into the United States due to his participation in the kidnapping.

After living in Cuba, Chile, and France, where he graduated from the École de Sciences Sociales of the University of Paris, Martins returned to Brazil in 1979 after the general amnesty.

Interestingly, he joined Globo TV network, known for supporting the military regime, working as a political commentator until his sudden dismissal in May 2006 by the news director, Ali Kamel.

Following a brief stint at the rival Bandeirantes network, Martins was appointed by President Lula to head the Department of Social Communication, a ministry-rank post equivalent to Press Secretary.