The president of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), confirmed in a meeting of leaders this Tuesday, 7th, the holding, next week, of the election to fill the vacancy in the Federal Audit Court (TCU) opened with the retirement of minister Aroldo Cedraz.
The election was scheduled for next Tuesday, the 14th. The candidates’ hearing will take place this Thursday, the 9th, at the Finance and Taxation Commission.
The voting booths have already been installed in the plenary and it is necessary to publish a notice so that the process continues and is not judicialized.
Motta is trying to fulfill an agreement made with the PT in 2024, according to which the party would support him in the elections for the presidency of the Chamber in exchange for his approval of the name of Odair Cunha (PT-MG) for the vacancy in the TCU.
To fulfill the agreement, Motta is betting on the fragmentation of right-wing candidacies. So far, deputies Adriana Ventura (Novo-SP), Hugo Leal (PSD-RJ), Elmar Nascimento (União-BA) and Danilo Forte (PP-CE) have already signaled their intention to run.
Deputy Hélio Lopes (RJ), from PL, also indicated his willingness to run for the seat, but the party should launch deputy Soraya Santos (RJ), considered more moderate.
Continues after advertising
Soraya already ran in 2023, when minister Jhonatan de Jesus (RR), then with the Republicans, won the seat. At the time, she obtained 75 votes.
The PT counts, above all, on compliance with the agreement and massive support from MDB and Republicans.
The PT’s record in the last TCU elections is unfavorable to Odair. Cedraz himself (PFL-BA) was elected in 2006 in a dispute that had a PT member as the government candidate – Paulo Delgado (PT-MG). He obtained 172 votes, compared to 148 for his opponent.
In 2005, Augusto Nardes (PP-RS) received 203 votes, while José Pimentel (PT-CE) obtained 137.
As there is no second round in the election and victory is by simple majority, the reading is that many right-wing candidates against one from the PT could disperse the votes and seal Odair Cunha’s victory.
The Federal Audit Court is made up of nine ministers. Six of them are appointed by the National Congress; the other three are appointed by the Palácio do Planalto. The Court is responsible, among other things, for analyzing the accountability of the President of the Republic and carrying out inspections and audits of the accounts of the Chamber and the Senate.
Continues after advertising
