The Senate approves Maria Luisa Viotti’s presidency of the Brazilian Embassy in the United States

On Wednesday (17th), the Senate approved the candidacy of diplomat Maria Luisa Ribeiro Viotti for the post of Brazilian Ambassador to the United States. She is the first woman appointed to this position. The nomination letter (MSF 9/2023) received 44 votes in favour, one against and one abstention. The name of Maria Luisa Ribeiro Viotti was approved by the Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defense on Thursday (11) after Saturday.

This is an important milestone in the history of Brazilian diplomacy, Agência Senado’s decision-making agency, Senator Mara Gabrielli (PSD-SP) stated. “I feel proud to be a rapporteur. The nomination marks a milestone in the history of Itamaraty. It is the first time in the history of our diplomacy that a woman has headed the embassy [do Brasil] in the United States of America. This reinforces efforts for greater representation of both sexes in the most important positions in the Brazilian diplomatic service,” said Gabrielli.

Maria Luisa Viotti was born in Belo Horizonte, she is 69 years old. She entered the diplomatic service in 1976 and graduated in Economics from the Unified Teaching Association of Brasília in 1978. She also completed courses in improving diplomats (1982) and graduate studies (1995). He holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Brasilia (UnB).

Maria Luisa held several positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Director of the Department for Human Rights and Social Issues, from 2004 to 2006; and Director of the Department of International Organizations, from 2006 to 2007. Abroad, the diplomat was, among other positions, Counselor at the Brazilian Embassy in Bolivia; Permanent Delegate to the United Nations (UN) from 2007 to 2013 and Ambassador of Brazil to Germany from 2013 to 2016. Between 2017 and 2022, she headed the office of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.

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