Lula’s minister’s wife is approved for the TCE-CE with a salary of R$39,700

The wife of the Minister of Education, Camilo Santana (PT), Onélia Santana, had her name approved this Friday, 13th, for a vacancy at the Court of Auditors of the State of Ceará (TCE-CE).

After being questioned this Thursday, 12th, by the Constitution, Justice and Writing Committee (CCJR) of the Legislative Assembly of Ceará (Alece), Onélia’s name received a favorable opinion in the committee and went to final consideration by the House plenary session. special this Friday.

With a secret vote and 41 parliamentarians present, the score was 36 votes to 5 so that the psychopedagogue, with a PhD in Health Sciences from the Faculty of Medicine of ABC, would take the position.

Onélia, who has currently been Ceará’s Secretary of Social Protection since January 2023, will join the court for the next 33 years, until she reaches compulsory retirement age, at 75 years old. The monthly salary of TCE-CE counselors is R$39,717 69.

Although there is a dominance of the base of governor Elmano de Freitas (PT), ally and successor of the Minister of Education – Santana was governor of Ceará between 2015 and 2022 -, the session was marked by demonstrations, mainly against the nomination.

State deputy Sergeant Reginauro (União) criticized the state media for, according to him, not focusing on the issue during the nominee’s hearing. “It sounded bad, the appointment of Camilo Santana’s wife was vexatious and unnecessary,” he said, referring to the news that had repercussions nationally, citing that she is the fourth wife of a minister in the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in audit courts across the country.

Reginauro also questioned a technical criterion for the nomination, regarding the internal regulations saying that, to be approved, the person cannot have responded to any criminal case, stating that the “nothing is stated” presented by the secretary concerns the current moment, and not the past. Romeu Aldigueri (PDT) asked to speak, stating that the issue was clarified by Onélia during the hearing, referring to an extinct investigation from which the secretary was acquitted.

Deputy Queiroz Filho (PDT) also spoke, corroborating the question about the procedural requirement. The deputy also defended that the vote be open. Another oppositionist, Carmelo Neto (PL) said there was a “clear rigging” in the State by the Minister of Education and that everyone already knew what the result of the vote would be. Parliamentarians also criticized that Onélia’s hearing the day before was not open to the press.

Osmar Baquit (PDT) took to the stand to defend the nomination, stating that “it is pure envy, because Camilo became the greatest political leader in the State” and stated that nominations also took place in other governments, citing Jair Bolsonaro (PL) appointing two ministers of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and their proximity to Michelle Bolsonaro.