Palácio das Mangabeiras collection disappearance sparks investigation in Minas Gerais

The Tribunal de Contas Contas do Estado de Minas Gerais (TCE‑MG) opened an inquiry after a document recorded the donation of 63 decorative furniture items from the Palácio das Mangabeiras to the state Secretariat‑General without specifying which objects were transferred. Critics argue the lack of detail violates public‑asset management rules. Deputy Bella Gonçalves asked the Federal Police to trace the missing items, and the opposition referred the case to TCE‑MG. The state government maintains that the entire inventory remains recorded and that books are in the State Public Library, artworks are held by the Palácio da Liberdade and the Museu Mineiro, and the remaining items are stored in public facilities.

Journalist Hildegard Angel amplified the controversy, claiming that “practically the entire historic collection vanished” and accusing Governor Romeu Zema of dismissing the issue as “old furniture.” Angel compared the loss to the Louvre theft, stating “Não sobrou nem o cheiro.” Legal experts note that a donation without individual item identification could breach principles of legality and transparency, though they stop short of labeling it outright corruption.