Civil Police operation generates discomfort among Nunes' allies
The São Paulo Civil Police operation that targeted contracts linked to the Free Wi-Fi Communities program caused discomfort among high-ranking members of São Paulo City Hall and generated discomfort behind the scenes in the political alliance that unites Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) with Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans).
Sources consulted by CNN state that Nunes' assistants considered the action this Monday (1st) unnecessary and excessively ostentatious. According to these interlocutors, part of the documents seized by investigators would already be available in municipal administration transparency mechanisms.
Despite the discomfort, members of the City Council avoided attributing responsibility to the governor. Behind the scenes, however, some assistants see a "political bias" in the operation, attributing to the Civil Police an alleged retaliatory action against Tarcísio, who has been the target of charges from police officers in recent months.
For months, Civil Police entities have been putting pressure on the Tarcísio government for salary enhancement, career and structure. Associations of delegates publicly accused the governor and warned of wear and tear in the category.
Sources close to Tarcísio, in turn, reject this interpretation. According to the governor's interlocutors, the actions of the Civil Police precisely demonstrate the independence of the investigators and the fact that the investigations are not subject to political interference.
These sources state that Tarcísio is following the case, but does not participate in the investigations or interfere in the work of the corporation. The hypothesis that the operation may represent some type of retaliation by the Civil Police against the state government was classified by the governor's allies as "conjecture" and "speculation".
The operation affects a political environment marked by the proximity between Tarcísio and Nunes. During the 2024 municipal campaign, the governor played a central role in the mayor's re-election and was considered by allies to be one of the candidacy's main campaigners. The two groups also maintain frequent dialogue in political discussions in the state.
Behind the scenes at City Hall, the assessment is that the main dispute in the investigation will occur around the execution of the program contract. The municipal management maintains that the 3,200 internet points planned were delivered and remain in operation.
Operação Wi-Fi Livre carried out warrants at addresses linked to the Instituto Saber Brasil (ICB), the production company Go Up Entertainment and the Municipal Secretariat of Innovation and Technology. The Civil Police is investigating suspected irregularities in the contracting and execution of the program, as well as possible misappropriation of public resources.
CNN Brasil contacted the state Public Security Secretariat for a position and is awaiting feedback.
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Source: CNN