Directors of the Historical and Geographic Institute of the Federal District say that the president fails to share decisions
Directors of the (Historical and Geographic Institute of the Federal District) say that the president of the entity, Paulo Castelo Branco, has failed to share since the beginning of 2025 administrative decisions that should be made together. The president states that there is conflict in the relationship with directors because they want to participate in management decisions that do not fit them (read below).
The Institute, founded in 1964, promotes debates and lectures. It has a land of 25,000 m² in a central area of Brasilia in Asa Sul, donated by the Federal District Government in the 1970s. It cannot be sold. If the restriction was eliminated, it could be up to R $ 60 million for the construction of office. Directors are afraid that the president is discussing with the district government the change of land use. He denies it.
There is also disagreement about the institute’s sources of income. The school grows, of elementary school, has been installed in part of the land since the 1970s. The institute began an eviction action of the school in 2024. It obtained a favorable sentence, currently suspended by an injunction (provisional court decision). Rental payment of R $ 36,000 per month to the institute was interrupted.
The IHGDF obtained in 2024 an agreement of R $ 1.2 million with the Government of the Federal District. The agreement ended in June 2025. There is a proposal of new agreement with higher value: R $ 1.8 million. It has not yet been approved. There are disagreements between the president and the directors about the obligation to discuss the details of the agreement together.
The president of the IHGDF was elected for the first time in 2022. He held the position for 2 years without relevant conflicts. In 2024 it was reelected. The institute’s secretary general, Hugo Studart, said that, in the second term, the president began to make decisions without consulting the board.
The 2nd vice president of the Institute, who was a federal deputy (Republicans-DF) in 2023 and is currently alternate, said there is “lack of transparency”In the performance of Castelo Branco.“In this 2nd term, he has proved to be centralizing and authoritative”Said. According to Costa, the president fails to fulfill requests from the directors without submitting justifications.”He has been reacting abruptly”He said.
The conflicts intensified at board meetings in June and July 2025. Studart said the lack of information about management caused insecurity in the board of the institution’s vulnerability: “This secret management leads us to conclude that one seeks to hide something irregular or illegal. The president has to show the letters, especially in discussions about the land”.
Historical and Geographic Institute of the Federal District, in Brasilia
The IHGDF Legal Director, Max Telesca, stated that the Statute establishes that the president submits decisions to the board and, in some cases, to all 120 members of the institute through general assembly. “The Civil Code states that the statute of civil entities is fulfilled. If not met, there is illegality”.
The Deputy General Secretary, Virgílio Caixeta Arraes, said that the lack of discussion about the plan for the new agreement with the Federal District government is a demonstration of the president’s lack of dialogue: “The plan was available. But just to be consulted, not to give their opinion on the content”.
The financial director, Ricardo Gonçalves da Silva, also stated that conducting discussions about the plan for the new agreement was irregular. “The president should call all the directors and make aware of the plan“, These.
He stated that he did not have complete access to information about the institute’s finances. It also stated that what is available indicates vulnerability if the new agreement with the Federal District government is not soon approved: “The financial situation is precarious. The institute will enter the red in 2 or 3 months”.
What the President says
Paulo Castelo Branco, president of the Historical and Geographic Institute of the Federal District, in Brasília
Castelo Branco said he had recent discussions with the Federal District Government about the land where the Institute’s headquarters is because there is a pending regularization in Scripture. “When this is completed, we can seek public resources to finish building the Institute’s headquarters according to the original project”He said. The plan includes the construction of a 3 -story building, including underground, and an auditorium.
He stated that, in the first term, he was sought by a construction industry to discuss the possibility of selling the land. “I told him that this was not possible. The donation we receive does not allow”He said.
The donation also prevents, according to Castelo Branco, that part of the land is rented to the school grows. That is why it filed the eviction action: “It is something that has worked irregularly for decades on the ground”.
The president said he has autonomy for management decisions. He said that directors refuse to recognize the prerogatives of their position, which has resulted in conflict. It evaluates that the absence of divergences with directors in the 1st term is due to the fact that the agreement with the Federal District Government was valid only at the end of the period to fund the institute’s activities.
Castelo Branco said there were limitations to publicize the details of the proposal of the new agreement because it has not yet been approved by the district government. There was an increase of R $ 1.2 million to R $ 1.8 million because of the increase in costs, according to the president.
