The minister of the Federal Court of Auditors (TCU) Augusto Nardes informed the president of the court, minister Vital do Rêgo, that he will leave his position in December this year. He will bring forward his retirement by about ten months, to take better care of his health.
The departure will take place before compulsory retirement, which would be in October 2027, when Nardes will turn 75.
The vacancy opened by retirement belongs to the Chamber of Deputies’ nomination quota, which should trigger a dispute over the choice of replacement. The definition also expands the negotiating space for the president of the House, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), who must lead the discussions around the nomination.
A few months ago, deputies approved the nomination of Odair Cunha (PT-MG), with 303 votes in favor, for the vacancy opened with the departure of Aroldo Cedraz. The choice was made possible by strong articulation from Motta, who sought to fulfill an agreement made with the PT in 2024 to nominate a PT member in exchange for support for his candidacy for command of the Chamber.
The former deputy defeated Elmar Nascimento (União-BA), Danilo Forte (PP-CE), Hugo Leal (PSD-RJ), Gilson Daniel (Podemos-ES), Soraya Santos (PL-RJ) and Adriana Ventura (Novo-SP). The two withdrew their candidacy before the vote and, according to Soraya, there was an agreement among right-wing leaders so that, in the next open court vacancy, they would nominate a woman.
The TCU is the administrative court that monitors the country’s budgetary and financial execution and judges the accounts of the federal public administration. Among its duties are analyzing the accountability of the President of the Republic and carrying out inspections and audits of the accounts of the Chamber and the Senate.
Six of the Court’s nine ministers are chosen by the National Congress. The others are appointed by the Palácio do Planalto. Vacancies are filled in a linked manner, that is, it is up to the same institution responsible for nominating the previous minister to choose the replacement.
