EP Assembly approves son to replace father in TCE – 05/16/2023 – Power

The Legislative Assembly of Pernambuco approved this Tuesday (16) the lawyer Eduardo Porto as a new member of the TCE (State Court of Auditors). He will replace his own father, retired counselor Carlos Porto.

The candidacy was articulated by the President of the Assembly, Álvaro Porto (PSDB), who is the uncle of the future councilor and brother of Carlos Porto. This Tuesday, the parliamentarian chose not to preside over the session because he was related to the nominee, according to behind-the-scenes information.

The new councilor was approved with the endorsement of 47 of the 49 state deputies, in secret voting on paper ballots. There was a blank vote. He was the only candidate for the seat of the TCE, which is made up of seven full directors. The vacancy, which will now be filled by Eduardo Porto, is a prerogative of the Assembly.

The nomination movement included the anticipation of the retirement of Carlos Porto from the TCE. He could continue in the role until 2025, when he turns 75 and would have to leave the post compulsorily, but he made his departure official on May 3.

Behind the scenes at the TCE and at the Assembly, the assessment of councilors and deputies is that Carlos Porto made the move to anticipate in order to ensure the viability of his son’s candidacy, in line with his brother, who presides over the Legislative.

TCE chairs are coveted because the counselors, in addition to judging the accounts of the 184 mayors and the state government, receive a salary of R$ 37,589.96.

With the approval, the Porto family will be able to exceed 60 years old with a TCE advisor chair, since Carlos Porto stayed in the role for 33 years and his son, 41 years old, will be able to hold the role for 34 years.

The group from Porto also commands the city halls of Canhotinho, 210 km from Recife, and Quipapá, 180 km from the capital of Pernambuco, with the toucan’s wife and son, respectively.

The two cities are neighbors and have, respectively, 24,000 and 26,000 inhabitants. The expectation in the Assembly is that Eduardo Porto declares himself unable to judge accounts of these mayors if approved.

The episode in Pernambuco adds to other recent cases of indication of family members linked to politicians in the states. In Bahia, the wife of the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa (PT), nurse Aline Peixoto, was approved in March for the Court of Auditors of Municipalities in the state.

Also in March, in Pará, lawyer Daniela Barbalho, wife of Governor Helder Barbalho (MDB), was approved for the TCE. In Alagoas, administrator Renata Calheiros, wife of former governor and Minister of Transport Renan Filho, was also appointed to the Court of Auditors in December.

Lula government ministers (PT) Wellington Dias (Social Development) and Waldez Góes (National Integration), both former governors, also registered their wives in the audit courts of Piauí and Amapá, respectively.

The unity closed around Eduardo Porto’s candidacy was mainly due to the power of the President of the Assembly, Álvaro Porto. Parliamentarians who had reservations about the nomination pointed out that there could be attrition with the deputy in case of launching candidates against his nephew.

In votes since April, the Legislative Assembly changed the House’s bylaws to allow the vote on the Legislative nominations for the Court of Auditors to be held in secret format.

With the approval of Eduardo Porto, eyes now turn to the other chair that is vacant at TCE-PE. Counselor Teresa Duere, who will turn 75 in July, announced on Monday (15) her retirement from the court. The vacancy is also indicated by the Assembly and is the subject of dispute between deputy Álvaro Porto and governor Raquel Lyra (PSDB).

Despite being from the same party, the relationship between the two is strained, as Álvaro has sponsored actions that do not interest the Executive, while deputies complain about the government’s political interlocution.

In the case of the second vacancy to be opened at the TCE, Porto supports state deputy Rodrigo Novaes (PSB), while Raquel defends that a woman should occupy the position. The toucan’s preferred name is that of state deputy Débora Almeida (PSDB), but the parliamentarian has been giving signs to her colleagues in the Assembly that she might give up. Another quoted for the election is state deputy Joaquim Lira (PV), who would be independent.

As the voting will take place secretly, deputies tend to feel free to vote, even if it is to defeat the governor in an eventual dispute.

The requirements set forth in the state Constitution to occupy vacancies are to be at least 35 years old, unblemished reputation, notorious knowledge of legal, accounting, economic, financial or public administration knowledge and ten years of experience in these areas or in a function that includes these matters.

The candidates go through a sabbatical at the Assembly’s Legislation and Justice Commission before being submitted to the vote of the 49 deputies.