The vice-president of the Chamber, deputy Altineu Côrtes (PL-RJ)emerges as the favorite for a nomination for the second wave of minister of the TCU (Federal Audit Court) which should open later this year.
The ongoing political effort to elevate Altineu to the post involves the early retirement of minister Augusto Nardes and his participation as vice-president on the ticket headed by deputy Luciano Zucco (PL-RS) for governor of Rio Grande do Sul.
Nardes turns 75, the deadline for leaving public service is only in October 2027. If he runs for elections this year, he would need to leave by the beginning of April.
People close to the negotiations do not rule out an engineering in which Nardes, instead of vice-governor, is a candidate for the Senate or even for federal deputy — with the support of Bolsonarism in the state.
Gaucho de Santo Ângelo, the minister was a traditional member of the PP and served three terms as a federal deputy before being elected to a vacancy in the TCU, in 2005.
This articulation was confirmed by CNN by sources from the court of accounts and the PL. When contacted, Nardes did not comment.
In the opinion of interlocutors, as the PL owns the largest bench in the Chamber and the PP has a relevant role in the Centrão (being part of a federation with União Brasil), Altineu would appear as the probably strongest candidate for the vacancy in the TCU.
CNN found that the deputy has already expressed this desire to the president of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), who viewed the idea with sympathy. Motta would have said that Altineu is the first parliamentarian to express his desire to be nominated for this seat at the TCU.
The court is made up of nine ministers: three appointed by the Chamber, three by the Senate, one by the President of the Republic, another coming from the control body’s career as auditors and the last one coming from the Public Accounts Ministry.
In February, a vacancy is being opened with the compulsory retirement of minister Aroldo Cedraz.
In his campaign for the presidency of the Chamber, Motta and his political guarantor, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), promised this seat to the PT. The party intends to nominate deputy Odair Cunha (MG).
Other parties, however, claim that this agreement has no political support and entered the race to nominate their candidates.
The PSD defends the name of deputy Hugo Leal (RJ). Representative Danilo Forte (União-CE) also openly entered the dispute.
Elmar Nascimento (União-BA), who was passed over by Lira in the race for command of the Chamber in the 2025-2026 biennium, would also be willing to enter the dispute.
According to interlocutors close to Elmar, he is interested in both the vacancy left by Cedraz and the seat that will be vacated by Nardes.
TCU candidates undergo an internal election. Whoever has the most votes wins, without a second round.
