Brazilian Senate Approves Rodrigo Pacheco for Federal Court of Accounts

The Brazilian Senate approved the nomination of Senator Rodrigo Pacheco for a seat on the Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU), also known as the Federal Court of Accounts, on Tuesday. The vote ended with 63 in favor and 4 against. The nomination fills a vacancy created by the early resignation of Minister Bruno Dantas. The nomination now moves to the Chamber of Deputies for analysis, which is scheduled for Wednesday.

Senate President Davi Alcolumbre announced the nomination on Monday. Alcolumbre sought signatures from party leaders to emphasize that the choice was a collective decision. The process bypassed a traditional hearing in the Economic Affairs Committee, as Alcolumbre determined the project would be analyzed directly by the plenary. This move was permitted under internal regulations that allow the Senate to waive hearings for its nominees.

During the session, supporters praised Pacheco for his role in defending democracy and the integrity of electronic voting machines. Pacheco expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him, noting that he is at the end of his mandate and will not seek reelection. Some reports indicate that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had previously encouraged Pacheco to run for governor of Minas Gerais, a proposal the senator refused.

The TCU consists of nine ministers: three appointed by the Senate, three by the Chamber of Deputies, and three by the President of the Republic. Bruno Dantas, who resigned at age 48 to join a New York law firm as a senior partner for Latin America, is the first minister to resign in the court's 133 year history.

While most reports focused on the legislative process and Pacheco's career, a center outlet noted that the session was also marked by opposition lawmakers calling for the impeachment of Supreme Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes. Neither Pacheco nor Alcolumbre commented on those remarks.