Bruno Dantas is one of the most highly regarded candidates for Rosa Weber’s vacancy in the STF

The president of the Federal Audit Court (TCU), Bruno Dantas, is already seen inside the Planalto Palace as one of the names that should emerge as a favorite for the next vacancy that will open in the Federal Supreme Court (STF) in October, with the minister Rosa Weber’s retirement.

Dantas is seen by petistas as a name that gained prominence mainly for his performance against the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL). At the end of last year, he took advantage of the inauguration ceremony at TCU to indirectly criticize the management of the then president. Without quoting Bolsonaro, the jurist said that in recent years the country has experienced a “true civilizational setback”.

Dantas is also a critic of the Lava Jato operation. He recently said that the defunct task force had “exaggeratedly broadened” its scope, creating “widespread criminalization” against politicians. Last year, he voted to condemn federal deputy Deltan Dallagnol (Podemos-PR) to reimburse the public coffers by R$ 2.8 million for tickets and daily rates, allegedly irregular, paid to members of the task force who were not from Curitiba. , during the investigations of the operation. Subsequently, the TCU ruling was overturned by the Paraná court. Dallagnol was not responsible for releasing the payment of per diems and tickets and also did not receive the benefit.

Still according to PT leaders, the president of TCU has a guarantor profile, one of the characteristics that please the Planalto. Like Zanin, Dantas meets the age criterion, as he is 45 years old and could stay up to 30 years in the STF.

In addition to the sympathy of some PT wings, Dantas has the enthusiasm of several senators, including Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL). He served as general consultant to the Senate between 2007 and 2011, a period in which he created proximity with Calheiros and other MDB chiefs. The relationship guaranteed him a nomination for the TCU in the vacancy destined for the Senate, in 2014. His name was approved in plenary by 47 votes among the 60 senators who were present at the session.

In April, during the launch of the Social Participation Council elaboration process in Brasilia, Lula made a point of mentioning Dantas’ presence and praising the “exceptional work” of the Court commanded by him. “We have here at our table a special companion, who is Bruno Dantas, president of the Federal Court of Auditors. The court has done an exceptional job”, said the petista.