Bruno Dantas, a minister of the TCU, Brazil's federal audit court that oversees public spending, has decided to resign. Under the court's mandatory retirement rule, he would only have to leave in 2053, when he turns 75. The news was first reported by Veja and confirmed by Folha de S.Paulo on Friday (28).
Dantas has already told the TCU's president, minister Vital do Rêgo Filho, about his decision, according to Folha. A public announcement is expected in the coming days. The minister is moving to the private sector. Folha reports he is in talks with three companies, including a law firm with operations in Brazil and the United States. Veja says he is set to take command of Avibras, a missile and defense systems manufacturer founded in the 1960s that, after a financial crisis, is being acquired by the J&F group of brothers Joesley and Wesley Batista. Folha lists Avibras as one of the options under discussion.
A Senate-appointed seat
The resignation opens a seat that Congress has the power to fill, since part of the court's nine positions are congressional appointments. This one belongs to the Senate. The upper house's president, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), has expressed interest in nominating senator Rodrigo Pacheco (PSB-MG), a former Senate president, according to Folha. Veja also names Pacheco, whose term is ending, as the direct beneficiary of Dantas' departure.
Pacheco was Alcolumbre's preferred name for the STF, Brazil's Supreme Court, but President Lula (PT) passed him over and nominated the attorney general, Jorge Messias, who was defeated in a Senate floor vote in April. After the episode, the senator from Minas Gerais announced he is leaving politics and will not run for any office this year.
The timeline now depends on when the resignation is formalized. According to TCU members heard by Folha, if the departure is made official by next week, the Senate can vote on the replacement during the concentrated voting session scheduled for the week of August 31 to September 4, when Congress resumes voting after the election recess. Otherwise, the choice of the new minister will wait until after the October elections.