Son of the governor of SC gives up his role in the government after negative repercussions

The son of the governor of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello (PL), stated this Tuesday, 9th, that he gave up on taking over the State Civil House Secretariat. Lawyer Filipe Mello was appointed by his father last Wednesday, 3rd, but the action had negative repercussions and Filipe had his tenure suspended by the Court, which responded to a request from PSOL. This Tuesday, he benefited from a court decision that allowed his appointment.

In a note sent to the press, Filipe Mello stated that he gave up as head of the Santa Catarina Civil House due to “fruitless controversies”. “Anyone who knows us knows the relationship we have and knows that I don’t need a job,” he said.

“This afternoon talking to Governor Jorginho Mello, even though it is absolutely legal, we concluded that I must continue helping the governor in the way I am doing today. No position in the government”, said the lawyer.

To the Estadão, Filipe stated that the accusations of nepotism that arose after his father's appointment were political: “Left being left. They never did anything good in Santa Catarina, they wouldn’t do it now.”

A rule from the Federal Supreme Court (STF) defines nepotism as “the appointment of a spouse, partner or relative in a direct, collateral or affinity line, up to the third degree”. The rule specifically mentions commission and trust positions and has been interpreted so as not to apply to eminently political functions, such as heads of secretariats. On the other hand, the Federal Constitution determines that public administration must be conducted by the principles of “morality and impersonality”.

Filipe's inauguration was scheduled for this Wednesday, the 10th. According to the Santa Catarina government advisory, there is still no replacement name for the secretariat. The former secretary of the Civil House was Estêner Soratto da Silva Júnior, who resumed his position as state deputy.

The Santa Catarina government advisor also stated that the governor will not comment on the situation this Tuesday. An official statement from Jorginho is scheduled for this Wednesday, the 10th.

Possession of the governor's son was suspended and later released by the Santa Catarina Court

After the announcement of his departure to the secretariat, the PSOL of Santa Catarina filed a preventive writ of mandamus asking for the suspension of Filipe's appointment. The request was approved by judge João Marcos Bush who, in his decision, considered Jorginho's action as “serious damage, difficult or impossible to repair” and pointed out “a risk to the principles of morality, impersonality and nepotism”.

This Tuesday, the 9th, judge Gilberto Gomes de Oliveira, from the Court of Justice of Santa Catarina (TJSC), responded to a request from the state government and approved Filipe's appointment, arguing that the lawyer “has notable technical qualifications to assume this responsibility”.

“In this way, without further ado, it appears that there is no impediment that could make the contested appointment unfeasible, which is why there are no reasons for maintaining the aggravated command (the decision that barred the appointment)”, he noted.

According to his CV released by the Santa Catarina government, Filipe Melo was secretary in the state administration between 2011 and 2016, during the administration of Raimundo Colombo (PSD). The lawyer controlled the Planning, International Affairs and Tourism, Culture and Sport portfolios. He was also secretary at Florianópolis city hall, from 2005 to 2006 and from 2017 to 2018.

To the EstadãoFilipe said that the judge's decision “reestablished the existing legality” and classified the decision that suspended his tenure in public office as “abnormal”.