A frequent presence in official agendas of (Republicans), the first lady of , Cristiane Freitas, has been increasingly seen by assistants at Palácio dos Bandeirantes as one of the governor’s main political advisors and as one of the informal decision-making centers in the government.
Servers attribute her influence in nominating or vetoing names for the team and in evaluating Tarcísio’s eventual candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic.
In the opinion of advisors and employees interviewed by the Sheether role goes beyond the institutional role of the first lady at the head of the Social Fund, a body focused on social projects, qualification courses and fundraising campaigns.
The government denies that Cristiane interfered in any matter beyond her duties.
One of the most recent episodes cited by assistants was the veto on the return of Diego Dourado, brother-in-law of the former president (PL), to the Civil House team. Dourado acted as the governor’s political coordinator and was involved in negotiations to release amendments from state deputies. He left the government at the end of last year, citing tiredness, according to members of the administration.
In January, when Tarcísio appointed Roberto Carneiro, president of the Republicans-SP, to command the Civil House, by the new secretary. According to reports collected by SheetCristiane opposed the return of Bolsonaro’s relative to the government, and her opinion led to the veto.
With the change in command of the department, according to assistants who spoke confidentially, the new secretary would have received a list of civil servants to be dismissed, assigned to the first lady. The report requested an interview with the secretary by message and via press office, without success.
At least four members, all special advisors to the cabinet, were dismissed from the end of January, including employees who worked directly with the governor. According to assistants, the decision was related to the first lady’s discomfort regarding the proximity of the servants to her husband. Carneiro resisted the dismissal of a fifth nominee.
“There was and is not interference by the first lady in any matter or decision of state management beyond the scope of the Social Fund’s activities. The reports mentioned do not match reality,” said the government, in a statement. THE Sheet He asked Cristiane for an interview, which was not granted.
Cristiane, 53, has been married to Tarcísio since 1997. Born in Parnamirim (RN), daughter of a soldier, she grew up in the city’s military village and married the governor when he was still a second lieutenant in the Army. They have a 20-year-old son and a 17-year-old daughter. People close to her describe her as attentive to her husband’s personal routine, encouraging him to maintain healthier habits.
The first lady has a degree in public management. Still in Rio Grande do Norte, he was the manager of a shopping store. When Tarcísio was a federal employee in Brasília, the couple were partners with former federal deputy Major Vitor Hugo (PL-GO) on a preparatory course for public exams.
The husband highlights the public policies implemented by his wife, especially at graduation events for students on professional courses at the Social Fund. One of these events took place in December, filling the auditorium of Palácio dos Bandeirantes. Another was held last Thursday (12).
At this Thursday’s ceremony, in the packed auditorium, retired Jane Ivanovski, 69, resident of São Bernardo do Campo (Greater SP), squeezed between security guards and other students to take a selfie with Cristiane. “I give them all my support. All my respect. She’s the first lady we dream of,” she said, alongside friends who attend the program’s courses.
On stage at the event, there was deputy Paulo Freire (PL-SP), but not federal deputy Rosana Valle (PL-SP), the name that Michelle Bolsonaro defends for one of the seats in the Senate. It was a sign of discredit, attributed to the first lady.
The deputy denied the embarrassment. THE Sheetsaid that he had already been on stage at other graduation ceremonies and that the government rotates among the deputies who collaborate with the initiative.
In January, Cristiane came into the crosshairs of the Bolsonaro clan after commenting on Tarcísio’s social media that Brazil needed “a new CEO, my husband.” The governor’s team stated, at the time, that it was a habitual way of treating the couple, without political connotations.
Aides report that Cristiane began to find out more frequently about government issues through her chief of staff at the Social Fund, Raquel Berti, a former advisor to state deputy Valéria Bolsonaro (PL).
In October 2024, Cristiane took Raquel to the Social Fund, after the advisor had a disagreement with Valéria at the Women’s Secretariat. In the same period, allies reported the governor’s dissatisfaction with the department’s performance.
Raquel attended this Thursday’s ceremony on stage, in an area reserved for authorities. When thanking the organization’s team, Tarcísio looked in her direction and nodded. The reporter tried to contact the chief of staff, who did not respond.
