Benefit granted to Eletrozema became public after court decision on companies favored by tax incentives
The granted R$ 2.2 million in ICMS (Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services) discounts to Eletrozema, a retail chain belonging to Grupo Zema, a conglomerate founded by the family of the former governor and pre-candidate for the Presidency, (Novo). The data was released this Wednesday (June 24, 2026), after the court decision that forced the state administration to make public the list of companies benefiting from tax incentives.
The disclosure reignited the debate about granting tax benefits to companies linked to political figures who held prominent positions in the state Executive. The case began to be explored by Zema’s political opponents and by sectors of the opposition in Minas Gerais.
The existence of the benefit only became known after a legal dispute involving the transparency of tax incentives granted by the State. With the publication of the official spreadsheet as determined by the Court, it became possible to identify the companies covered by the tax programs during the period analyzed.
Among the beneficiaries is Eletrozema, one of the main companies of the Zema Group. The company operates in the retail sector and is part of a conglomerate with a presence in the areas of financial services, consortiums, insurance and fuel distribution.
According to the records released, the discounts granted to the company totaled R$ 2,282,543.68 and were recorded from 2024. The information was initially published by journalist Bernardo Mello Franco, in a column in the newspaper The Globe.
Romeu Zema governed Minas Gerais from 2019 to 2026 and maintains a stake in the business group created by his family. The announcement of the incentives came amid discussions about fiscal transparency and criteria for granting tax benefits by state governments.
O Poder360 He sought Romeu Zema’s advice through a message sent this Wednesday (June 24) via Whatsapp, to ask for a position on the case. The text will be updated if a statement is sent to this digital newspaper.
