Tarsisio needs to strengthen its long-term influence in TCE-SP – December 11, 2025 – Power

Aresp (São Paulo Legislative Assembly) is preparing to select next week the position of TCE (State Audit Court) Counselor, an ally of Governor Tarcisio de Freitas (Republican), to replace Sidney Berardo, who will retire at the end of this month.

According to state legislators from six parties heard by Congress, Carlos Cesar, leader of the House of Representatives’ PL bench, should be chosen. sheet. If his appointment is confirmed, he will be the fourth of seven advisors to the Tarcisio government.

Carlos Cesar’s choice could also give the governor long-term influence over the court. Marco Aurelio Bertaioli will be the first candidate under the current government to reach the age of 75 in 2043, the age at which councilors are forced to retire. Theoretically, by then, Mr. Tarcisio could have appointed a majority of the TCE’s members to the TCE, or gain the political base of the current government as a whole, without considering other reasons such as early retirement due to the age limit for court service.

The TCE seat is considered strategic by political parties and political leaders, as its holder is responsible for determining the accounts of the state government and the municipality of São Paulo, except in the capital, where the accounts are analyzed by the TCM (City Audit Court).

This organization has financial and administrative independence and is affiliated with the legislative branch. Since the inauguration of the current government, state legislators have demanded that they choose their own person for the post, which has a salary of R$44,000, excluding benefits, and a staff of 33 people (31 of whom are temporary employees).

The Aresp Board of Directors will receive nominations from agents for the position from Wednesday (12th) to Friday (14th) this week. Carlos Cesar will be questioned by lawmakers next Tuesday morning, and is expected to be approved the same afternoon, lawmakers predict. Approval depends on a simple majority vote, as long as at least 48 of the 94 members are present in the plenary session.

With the exception of PSOL, the party opposed to Tarcisio’s government, all other parties must vote in favor of the nomination of Carlos César, who has been campaigning since February this year.

The last time an active TCE state representative was elected was in 1990, when Eduardo Bittencourt Carvalho was appointed by then MDB Governor Orestes Quercia (1987-1991). Carvalho was a member of the PL, an acronym that gave rise to the current political party of the same name. The current PL is the result of the merger of the former PL and Prona in 2006.

Indications for TCE

The last São Paulo government to be appointed four times to the TCE was Luis Antonio Fleury (1991-1994), a historic member of the MDB. During this period, Edgardo Camargo Rodríguez, Flavio Julián Biazzi, Claudio Ferraz de Alvarenga and Renato Martins Costa were nominated, the latter of whom is still active. All appointments were approved by Fleury.

The government (2011-2018) of Gerardo Alcumin, who is currently vice president of the Republic and a member of the PSB, appointed three people in 2012: Cristiana Moraes, Dimas Ramalho, and Sidney Berardo, who will retire on the 25th of this month.

Mr. Alcumin nominated Mr. Berardo, who was the government’s chief secretary of the House of Commons, and worked behind the scenes to have Mr. Aresp nominated Mr. Ramalho. Christiana, the only woman in history to join the court, was selected from the triple list after an appeal by the court auditors.

Of the four parliamentary seats filled during Tarsisio’s administration, three were appointed by Aresp and one by the governor.

Mr. Aresp’s first appointment, Mr. Bertaioli’s, took place in 2023 and was the result of a political effort involving PL’s national president Valdemar Costa Neto, Government Secretary Gilberto Casab (PSD) and Mr. Tarcisio himself.

In 2024, the House of Representatives elected Maxwell Borges to the court. The name was recommended by STF Minister Andres Mendonça and supported by Tarcisio.

Former state Superintendent Wagner Rosario, who was sworn in last week, was Tarcisio’s personal recommendation. The two studied together in the same class at Aman (Agras Negras Military Academy) and served as ministers in the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government.

What is TCE-SP?

The agency responsible for supervising the finances and assets of the government of São Paulo and all its municipalities (excluding the capital), including direct and indirect administrative agencies, foundations, and associations. Four of the seven councilors are chosen by the Legislative Assembly and three by the Governor.

2025 budget: 1.24 billion reais (value adjusted for inflation)

server:1,638

advisor: Cristiana Moraes (President), Dimas Ramalho (Vice President), Marco Aurelio Bertaioli (Inspector), Renato Martins Costa, Sidney Berardo, Maxwell Borges, Wagner Rosario.