A session marked by tension and exchange of accusations between ministers of the Federal Court of Audit (TCU) exposed internal differences in the analysis of resources related to those of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS). The case involves irregular fraud and discounts applied to social security benefits, affecting millions of retirees and pensioners across the country.
During the vote held on Wednesday (7), Minister Walton Alencar Rodrigues, dean of TCU, publicly questioned colleague Aroldo Cedraz, rapporteur of the case, why the process was included and withdrawn from agenda six times over a year.
“I’ve been in this court for over 30 years and I’ve never seen it happen except in another process of Minister Cedraz,” said Walton. “This process demands an explanation not only to me, but to all Brazilian society.”
Cedraz, in turn, countered the statements, classifying them as an attempt to demoralize him. “It’s another lie to try to get me out of the rapporteur of this process,” he said. The climate of tension led the president of TCU, Vital do Rêgo, ending the vote, which ended with the unanimous rejection of all the resources presented by the retired associations and the INSS itself.
TCU trial occurs amid the scandal involving INSS fraud, where retirees associations are accused of applying unauthorized discounts on social security benefits. The scheme, which generated billionaire damage to the insured, led to the resignation of the former INSS president and the investigation of several association leaders who offered retired services.
