| Flávio Arns | |
| Office: | Senator for Paraná |
| Term Start: | 1 February 2019 |
| Term Start1: | 1 February 2003 |
| Term End1: | 1 February 2011 |
| Office2: | Vice Governor of Paraná |
| Term Start2: | 1 January 2011 |
| Term End2: | 1 January 2015 |
| Predecessor2: | Orlando Pessuti |
| Successor2: | Cida Borghetti |
| Governor2: | Beto Richa |
| Office3: | Secretary for Strategic Affairs of Paraná |
| Term Start3: | 1 January 2015 |
| Term End3: | 8 June 2017 |
| Governor3: | Beto Richa |
| Office4: | Secretary of Education of Paraná |
| Term Start4: | 1 January 2011 |
| Term End4: | 3 April 2014 |
| Governor4: | Beto Richa |
| Office5: | Federal Deputy for Paraná |
| Term Start5: | 1 February 1991 |
| Term End5: | 31 January 2003 |
| Office6: | Director of Special Education of Paraná |
| Term Start6: | 1983 |
| Term End6: | 1990 |
| Birth Date: | 9 November 1950 |
| Birth Place: | Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil |
| Party: | PSB (2023–present) |
| Profession: | Educator |
Flávio José Arns (born 9 November 1950) is a federal senator of Brazil representing his home state of Paraná.[1] He was previously vice-governor of Paraná from 2011 to 2015, and also served in the chamber of deputies from 1991 to 2003.[2]
Arns was born to Osvaldo Arns and Teresinha Mohr.[2] Of German descent, he is grandson of Gabriel Arns and Helene Steiner. Brought up in a religious Catholic family, he is related to important Brazilian religious figuers Zilda Arns and Paulo Evaristo Arns, being the nephew of the former and grand-cousin of the latter. He is married Odenise Teresinha Arns, with whom he had two children: Caroline Arns and Osvaldo Arns Neto.[3]
Arns graduated from Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in 1972, and the following years graduated with a degree in law from Federal University of Paraná.[2] In 1980 he graduated with a PhD. in Linguistics with his thesis focusing on language and behavior from Northwestern University in the United States.[4]
Arns served as director of education for individuals with special needs from 1983 to 1990.[3] He then elected to and served in the Chamber of Deputies for three consecutive terms from 1991 to 2003.[2] He then served as vice governor for Beto Richa in his home state of Paraná as well as holding various positions in the state government.[2] In the 2018 Brazilian general election Arns was one of two members from Paraná, the other being Oriovisto Guimarães, to contest elections in the national senate, where he was elected.[5] Following him taking seat in the senate he was elected vice chair of the Commission on Education, Culture and Sport.[6] [7]
Arns voted against the impeachment of then-president Dilma Rousseff.[8] [9]
A strong supporter of the rights of those with autism and other developmental disabilities, in September 2016 Arns was recognized by the senate of Paraná for his political activism.[10]
Arns has faced some controversy for allegedly hiring Rosângela Wolff, the wife of judge Sergio Moro, as a legal adviser in 2015. Judges are prohibited to communicate with active politicians in Brazil, and Wolff denied that she ever formally worked for Arns.[11]
On 31 August 2020 Arns announced that he had left the Sustainability Network and joined the Podemos party in the Brazilian senate.[12]