Brazil: Workers’ Party loses dispute for financial director of Itaipu hydroelectric plant

The Workers’ Party (PT) lost the dispute over the command of Itaipu’s financial directorate to the centrist party.

The state-owned company controls the largest hydroelectric power plant in Brazil.

According to CNN, André Pepitone will take the post.

The nomination had been advocated by Alexandre Silveira (PSD) and other senior members of the party.

Among them are Rodrigo Pacheco, president of the Senate, and Gilberto Kassab, founder of the party.

The formalization of his name to the Brazilian Company of Holdings in Nuclear Energy and Binationals (ENBPar) was on Wednesday, 5.

Pepitone served in the same position during the Bolsonaro government.

However, he was removed from the position in March after Gleisi Hoffmann, president of the PT, and vice-president Geraldo Alckmin indicated Pedro Guerra for the position, son of Alceni Guerra, a former minister in the Collor administration.

Alceni and Pedro are affiliated with the PSD. The duo campaigned for President Lula during the 2022 elections.

In doing so, they contradicted the party’s command in Paraná, which declared its support for the reelection of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The process of supporting Lula brought father and son closer to Gleisi, who is also from the state.

The PT party had already nominated federal deputy Enio Verri (PT-PR) for the post of president of Itaipu, leading the PSD to defend Pepitone’s nomination behind the scenes.

With information from Revista Oeste