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Sao Paulo Mayor Bruno Covas dies of cancer at age 41

Sao Paulo Mayor Bruno Covas died at Hospital Sirio Libanes following a two-year battle with cancer on Sunday. Photo courtesy Sao Paulo State Government/Wikimedia Commons 
Sao Paulo Mayor Bruno Covas died at Hospital Sirio Libanes following a two-year battle with cancer on Sunday. Photo courtesy Sao Paulo State Government/Wikimedia Commons 

May 16 (UPI) -- Bruno Covas, mayor of the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, died Sunday after a bout with cancer, the city government said. He was 41 years old.

Covas died at Hospital Sirio Libanes two weeks after he had announced he was taking a 30-day leave after he was admitted to the hospital on May 2.

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He was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2019, when the disease was discovered in his digestive system and later spread to his bones.

Covas, the grandson of Brazilian senator and governor of the state of Sao Paulo Mario Covas, entered politics at the age of 17 when he became secretary of the PSDB party's youth wing.

He served as state deputy, Congressman, party leader environment secretary and adviser to Gov. Geraldo Alckmin before taking over as mayor of Sao Paulo after Joao Doria left to run for governor.

Covas was elected to a four-year term in late 2020.

"Our solidarity with the family and friends of Bruno Covas, who died today after a long battle with cancer. May God comfort everyone's heart!" Brazilian President Jair Boslonaro wrote on Twitter.

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Ricardo Nunes, Covas' deputy mayor, will take over the position of mayor following his death.

Nunes, 53, is a member of the centrist MDB party and has said he will follow Covas' guidelines and doesn't plan to immediately change top personnel.

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