Cuiabá Mayor Abílio Brunini Confronts Legal Scrutiny and Council Reform Effort

The Tribunal de Contas do Estado de Mato‑Grosso and the Ministério Público dismissed a complaint that Mayor Abílio Brunini of Cuiabá had used staff from the municipal communication secretariat for personal promotion. The court found no evidence of irregularity, stating the audiovisual material was produced in the regular exercise of institutional duties and that the complaint lacked the minimum elements required for admission.

Separately, Brunini, now serving as mayor, filed an ADI with the Tribunal de Justiça do Mato‑Grosso seeking to eliminate the two‑thirds quorum needed to amend the city council’s internal regulations. The change would ease the re‑election of council president Paula Calil, an ally of the mayor. The move contrasts with Brunini’s 2018 position as a councilor, when he opposed a similar re‑election rule.

Councilor and first‑lady Samantha Iris, Brunini’s spouse, said she was honored by a proposal from federal deputy José Medeiros that she could assume the national leadership of PL Mulher. She added, “I’m very flattered… but I don’t think I’m known nationally; Michelle Bolsonaro is the bigger leader.”