Igor Rousseff, Dilma Rousseff's elder brother, dies at 79

Igor Rousseff, the elder brother of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, died Saturday at the age of 79. His grandson, Belo Horizonte councilman Pedro Rousseff, confirmed his passing, remembering him as a simple, honest, and hardworking man who lived life on his own terms, surrounded by friends and family.

Born in 1947, the same year as his sister Dilma, Igor was the eldest of three siblings. He died at Hospital Madre Teresa in Belo Horizonte following complications from multiple organ failure. His farewell ceremony was held Sunday in Passa Tempo, a town in the interior of Minas Gerais, where he had lived for the past 12 years with his wife, stepdaughter, and seven cats.

Beyond his legal career, Igor Rousseff also pursued studies in journalism and history. While he primarily worked in the private sector, he briefly served as a special advisor to the Belo Horizonte mayor's office during the administration of then-mayor Fernando Pimentel. Despite his family's prominent political role, Igor reportedly disliked politics and maintained a distance from the spotlight during Dilma Rousseff's presidency, preferring a quiet life in the countryside.

“

Today my grandfather, Igor Rousseff, passed away. The first person who believed in me and got me into politics. A simple, honest, and hardworking man. He lived life the way he wanted: always surrounded by friends and family.