Government will keep its distance from competition for a place at TCU – 03/01/2026 – Panel

The Luiz Inácio da Silva government decided not to be directly involved in the election for the new minister of the (Federal Audit Court), which should be held in the coming weeks. The vacancy was opened with the retirement last Wednesday (25) of minister Aroldo Cedraz.

Planalto’s decision is officially justified by the fact that the issue is internal to the Legislature. But the distance also helps the candidacy of Odair Cunha (PT-MG), who has been trying to separate his campaign from the Lula administration.

The PT member presents his candidacy as a front that includes several parties, and not just those most directly linked to Lula. He says he also has support in centrist parties, such as MDB, and even in parties that tend towards Bolsonarism, such as PP and Republicans.

Cunha has still targeted the PSDB and Podemos. Allies claim that so far he has support in benches that total 294 parliamentarians. Not everyone will vote for him, however, because the election is secret.

–Hugo Leal (PSD-RJ), Danilo Forte (União-CE) and Elmar Nascimento (União-BA)– are also from parties that have positions in the government. The only declared opponent is Hélio Lopes (PL-RJ).

The PT member counters and states that he will have an institutional role if he is a TCU minister, and not aligned with the Lula government.

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