EP Assembly articulates for son to replace father in TCE – 05/05/2023 – Power

The president of the Legislative Assembly of Pernambuco, Álvaro Porto (PSDB), articulates the candidacy of a nephew, the lawyer Eduardo Porto, for a vacancy in the TCE (State Court of Auditors). The lawyer would replace, if approved by state deputies, his own father, retired counselor Carlos Porto.

Carlos Porto’s retirement from TCE was made official on Wednesday (3). He anticipated his departure by two years, as he could continue in the role until 2025, when he turns 75 and would have to leave the post compulsorily.

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.

The vacancy is the prerogative of the Assembly, with secret voting by state deputies. To be approved, a candidate needs at least 25 votes. 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.

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 transport minister 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.

In Pernambuco, Eduardo Porto’s approval for the position in the Court of Auditors is taken for granted, including by a wing in the Legislative that is upset with the articulation, but that should vote in favor of not wanting to face the President of the House.

After leaving the TCE, Carlos Porto joined the post in 1990. If he guarantees the vacancy, the nomination of Eduardo Porto would guarantee the Porto family for more than 60 years occupying a chair of director of the TCE, since Carlos Porto stayed in the position for 33 years and his 41-year-old son would have another 34 years in office.

The group 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.

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

In addition to the vacancy resulting from Carlos Porto’s retirement, another chair will become vacant at the TCE in 2023. Counselor Teresa Duere will leave the court of accounts until July, when she will turn 75, also in a vacancy for appointment by the Assembly.

The counselor’s vacancy 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).

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

Voting for the two vacancies was scheduled to take place in June, but Eduardo Porto’s candidacy, with his father’s chair already vacant, has a chance of being voted on in May.

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.