MP with the TCU calls for investigation of Lula’s minister for unseasonal carnival

The Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Federal Court of Auditors (TCU) asked this Wednesday (10) that the Court of Auditors investigate the minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, Márcio Macêdo, for alleged misuse of purpose in the use of public funds to purchase tickets for the pre-Carnival in Aracaju (SE).

In the request, the deputy attorney general of the MP-TCU, Lucas Furtado, stated that the minister had gone “to ‘enjoy’, with his friends, the out-of-season carnival festivities in his electoral stronghold.” “Pre-Caju” took place at the beginning of November last year. The minister made posts on Instagram about the event.

“The purchase of tickets by Minister Marcos Macedo to ‘enjoy’, with his companions, the out-of-season carnival festivities in his electoral stronghold, violates administrative morality and constitutes an evident misuse of purpose in the use of public resources. In the reported case, there was no public interest to be satisfied, but only the private interest of the minister and his sponsors, which ended up being paid for with the taxpayer’s hard-earned money”, wrote the deputy attorney.

Furtado cites news about the dismissal of the executive secretary of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, Maria Fernanda Ramos Coelho. He points out, based on reports, that Maria Fernanda had resigned after refusing to sign the release of public resources to purchase tickets. With the refusal, the minister himself would have signed the authorization for the expenses. She was considered “number 2” in the department and is a prominent figure in the PT.

The reason for the dismissal was not officially disclosed, but information from allies indicates that the executive secretary had differences with Macêdo. She denied it and just said it was the “end of a cycle”. In a note, the General Secretariat of the Presidency reported that “there was never any discussion regarding any tickets or travel allowances between the former secretary and minister Márcio Macêdo”, the portal reported. Power360.

Furthermore, the ministry said that the dismissal occurred at the request of Maria Fernanda. “Regarding the trip of Ministry employees, it was decided to open an investigation to investigate the reported facts”, says the statement.

The deputy attorney requests that the TCU receive representation and determine the investigation of “possible conduct that violates administrative morality and misuse of purpose in the use of public funds to purchase tickets” by the minister, “instituting due special accounting”. Furtado highlighted that, if the irregularity is confirmed, the treasury must be reimbursed. The Court of Auditors still needs to accept Furtado’s request to continue the investigation.