Academia Brasileira de Letras announces 17 candidates for Zuenir Ventura's seat

The Academia Brasileira de Letras (ABL) has announced 17 candidates competing for Chair 32, following the death of journalist and writer Zuenir Ventura on September 22. The election to select a new member is scheduled for November 12.

The list of candidates includes professionals from diverse intellectual fields, such as writers, journalists, researchers, visual artists, and professors. Among the contenders is physician and author Drauzio Varella. Other candidates include Sergio Fonta, Anna Bella Geiger, Eduardo Baccarin-Costa, Gutemberg da Silva Miranda, José Hilcério Campos de Abreu, Eloi Angelos Guio, Taurino Araújo, Alcimário Soares da Costa Júnior, Ruy da Penha Lobo, Rodrigo Cabrera Gonzales, Martinho Ramalho de Melo, Alexandra Vieira de Almeida, Paulo Renato Ceratti, José Gildo Pereira Borges, J. M. Monteirás, and Franklin Machado.

To be elected, a candidate must secure an absolute majority of the votes from the Academy's members. The ABL consists of 40 official chairs.