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Carlos Lupi Leaves The Ministry Of Social Security Amid Fraud Crisis At The INSS; Wolney Queiroz Assumes The Role With A Mission To Restructure The Ministry.
The president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received on this Friday (2) the resignation request of Carlos Lupi from the position of Minister of Social Security. Find out who Wolney Queiroz is, his replacement.
The departure comes amid a crisis at the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), which faces fraud allegations with an estimated loss of R$ 6.3 billion between 2019 and 2024.
During a hearing at the Palácio do Planalto, Lupi formalized his decision.
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In his place, Lula appointed Wolney Queiroz, currently the executive secretary of Social Security.
Who Is Wolney Queiroz
Wolney Queiroz Maciel, born in Caruaru, Pernambuco, currently holds the position of executive secretary of the Ministry of Social Security, considered the second most relevant post in the hierarchy of the ministry.
A member of the PDT party, chaired by Carlos Lupi (on leave from the position), Wolney had a long career as a federal deputy in his state, being elected for six consecutive terms starting in 1995.
In 2022, he took over the leadership of the opposition to then-President Jair Bolsonaro in the Chamber, leading a bloc with several leftist parties.
That same year, he tried to renew his mandate, but was not re-elected.
Frauds In The INSS Generate Government Reaction
Lupi’s decision to leave the ministry comes after allegations revealed by the Metrópoles portal in March 2024.
The investigation showed that 29 entities authorized by the INSS increased their revenue from retirees’ monthly fees by 300% in just one year.
At the same time, these entities faced over 60,000 lawsuits for what were considered undue discounts.
The report analyzed court decisions that condemned entities for enrolling retirees without consent.
Many beneficiaries reported that they had never heard of the associations before seeing discounts of R$ 45 to R$ 77 on their benefits.
Operation Without Discount And Dismissals
After the allegation, the INSS launched internal investigations.
The Office of the Comptroller General (CGU) and the Federal Police (PF) also began investigations that culminated in Operation Without Discount, launched on Wednesday.
The repercussions led to the dismissal of the director of Benefits at the INSS, André Fidelis.
Another point of tension was Carlos Lupi’s reluctance to dismiss Alessandro Stefanutto, then president of the INSS. Even after a direct order from Lula, the minister publicly defended Stefanutto at a press conference.
Lupi’s departure opens the way for adjustments in the management of the ministry, while the government tries to regain control of the crisis and restore the credibility of Social Security.
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