Geraldo Jr. spoke about Poder360’s report regarding the constant presence of companies linked to ACM Neto’s relatives in bidding for garbage collection
The vice-governor of Bahia, Geraldo Jr. (MDB), said that the state capital “appears to be for sale to the king’s friends”. The comment, made in reference to former mayor ACM Neto (União Brasil), is a response to information that the same companies have been bidding for garbage collection since 2018. Owners of two of them are linked to ACM Neto and the former governor Paulo Souto (União Brasil), from the former mayor’s political group.
Geraldo Jr. is the main rival of the current mayor of Salvador, Bruno Reis (União Brasil), in the electoral race for the capital of Bahia. In voting intention polls, Reis has a chance of being re-elected and has the support of ACM Neto. According to a survey released this Thursday (March 28, 2024) by Paraná Pesquisas, Reis has 62.3% of intentions compared to just 13.8% for Geraldo Jr. in the stimulated version.
“Salvador appears to be for sale to ‘the king’s friends’. This is the impression given by yet another piece of news about the actions of Salvador City Hall, which gained negative attention in the national press.”, said Geraldo Jr..
In a report, the Power360 showed that the R$1.3 billion bidding process for garbage collection in Salvador will involve 6 of the 7 companies that won the bid 6 years ago. The envelopes with the proposals will be opened on Monday (April 1, 2024). If they win the bid again, they will have a 56% adjustment to the contract. The value is well above the 38% inflation in the period.
“After the absurd sale of green areas, the City Hall is now about to hand over, for the amount of R$ 1.3 billion, garbage collection to ‘the same companies as always’, according to a report published this Thursday on the website Power 360. The matter deserves transparency. More than ever, it is necessary to rethink the management of Salvador”, added Geraldo Jr.
In addition to the issue of the bidding process, the vice-governor also criticized the city hall’s approval of the auction of green areas in Salvador. O Power360 found that there is political interest in the sale of the area by Novonor (formerly Odebrecht), ACM Neto and Sidônio Palmeira, the publicist responsible for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s (PT) campaign in 2022.
O Power360 contacted Governor Jeronimo Rodrigues (PT) to comment on the report, but received no response. Geraldo Jr. is from Rodrigues’ political group, while Reis is an ally of ACM Neto.
UNDERSTAND THE BIDDING PROCESS
The R$1.3 billion contract (read more below) will last 2 years and can be extended for another 3, according to the notice. It consists of 3 lots – values range from R$27.2 million to R$738.8 million.
For the 1st lot, valued at R$548.3 million, there are 4 interested parties:
These 4 companies already manage one of the lots offered in the 2018 tender. The contract valid until 2020 was renewed for another 4 years. Here is the full document (PDF – 784 MB).
Two of the 4 companies have links with state politicians:
- Naturalle’s partner is Vitor Souto, son of the former governor of Bahia Paulo Souto;
- The MM is by José Marcos de Moura. Known as Marcos Moura (his company’s initials), he is a friend of the former mayor of Salvador ACM Neto. The businessman also owns an aircraft together with Renata de Magalhães Corrêa, the politician’s sister.
Revita is already responsible for a batch of the 2018 event, in a consortium with Estre Ambiental. To date, Estre Ambiental has not participated in this year’s tender.
The 3rd and last batch is evaluated at R$ 27.2 million. It should stay with BF Ambiental, the only interested party so far. The company already has a contract with Salvador City Hall for garbage collection. With the additions arising from the renewal of the acquired agreement, it received R$45 million, according to the State Transparency Portal.
