Lula Appoints “Waguinho” to Control Rio’s Ports — But Justice and Infrastructure Aren’t the…

Lula Appoints “Waguinho” to Control Rio’s Ports — But Justice and Infrastructure Aren’t the Priority ⚠️🚢

✍🏾 By Fabio Ivan

Lula and Waguinho (photo from the internet)

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has appointed Wagner dos Santos Carneiro, widely known as Waguinho, former mayor of Belford Roxo (RJ), to lead PortosRio — the state-owned company responsible for strategic ports such as Rio de Janeiro, Itaguaí, Niterói, Forno, and Angra dos Reis. This appointment raises a red flag 🚨 — not only because of the politician’s troubled track record, but also for its blatant disregard for rules and public ethics.

Who is Waguinho? 🤔

Elected mayor of Belford Roxo in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 with over 80% of the vote 🗳️.

Under investigation for multimillion-dollar embezzlement in the purchase of school textbooks — contracts exceeding R$ 100 million 💸.

Facing probes over bid-rigging and misuse of public funds for school meals 🍽️.

Subject to an impeachment process, had accounts rejected, and was declared ineligible for 8 years ⛔.

Accused of nepotism — appointing his wife and sister to public positions 👥.

Allegedly linked to militia members and questionable figures in Rio’s Baixada Fluminense region ⚠️.

Why is this appointment a problem? ❌

1️⃣ Violation of the State-Owned Companies Law

Brazilian law requires a 36-month “cooling-off” period after holding party leadership positions before assuming top roles in state-owned companies — a rule clearly bypassed here. Waguinho was still a state party leader in 2023. ⚖️

2️⃣ Political reward over technical merit

The appointment is widely seen as a political quid pro quo. Waguinho was one of the few Baixada mayors to support Lula in the 2022 election — and that seems to outweigh the qualifications needed to manage vital national ports. 🤝

3️⃣ Risk to institutional credibility

With ongoing investigations and serious accusations, putting someone like this in charge of a strategic state enterprise undermines public trust. The private sector and industry experts have already expressed concerns. 😟

Conclusion 💡

Lula’s choice to appoint Waguinho to lead PortosRio reveals the persistence of political patronage over transparent and efficient governance. Before legitimizing this appointment, the government should answer: 🔹 Is this nomination fully compliant with the law? 🔹 Does Waguinho have the technical skills to manage Brazil’s ports? 🔹 What message does this send to the public and the industry? If public administration were truly a priority, leadership would be entrusted to someone with integrity, experience, and a commitment to the public interest — not to a political ally with a clouded reputation. In the end, it’s another case of power overriding principle — and Brazil paying the price. ✍🏾Fabio Ivan Independent Journalist | São Paulo – Brazil 📩 ivanfabio0055@gmail.com 🌐 substack.com/@FabioIvan | medium.com/Fabio Ivan