Romeu Zema's company received tax benefits during his governorship in Minas Gerais

Eletrozema, a company associated with presidential candidate Romeu Zema and his family, received significant tax benefits from the Minas Gerais state government during Zema's term as governor. State administration data reveals that Eletrozema was granted R$ 2.28 million in presumed ICMS tax credits in 2025.

Federal Revenue records indicate that Romero Zema, Romeu Zema's brother, serves as president of Eletrozema, which has a share capital of R$ 536 million. Romero's son and Romeu's nephew, Ricardo Zema Neto, is listed as a director. Romeu Zema asserted that the company has operated under a special tax regime since 2008, predating his entry into politics. He defended tax incentives as crucial for attracting major businesses to the state, emphasizing that during his governorship, these benefits were accessible to all investing companies.

Zema further explained that the special tax regimes in Minas Gerais were established by previous administrations and require approval from a committee comprising all state finance secretariats and the National Council of Fiscal Policy (Confaz). He noted that the renewal of these regimes is periodic and contingent upon meeting specific criteria. The state government clarified that Eletrozema's tax relief, noted as starting in June 2024, represents a continuation of tax treatment established by applicable legislation, provided legal and regulatory requirements are met.

During his time in office, Zema opposed the public disclosure of beneficiaries of tax waivers, comparing such secrecy to industrial secrets. He argued that revealing this information would be detrimental to the state. However, the current governor, Mateus Simões, who succeeded Zema after his presidential bid, has promised and initiated transparency regarding these fiscal waivers. Special tax regimes represent a state revenue waiver designed to benefit specific companies or sectors, granted by the State Finance Secretariat upon application. The government released a list of beneficiaries for regimes in effect in 2025, totaling R$ 19.4 billion in fiscal waivers, out of a projected R$ 22.7 billion in total state tax benefits for the year.

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Todos os regimes especiais de Minas foram criados em governos anteriores ao meu e contam com a aprovação de um colegiado formado por todas as secretarias de fazenda dos estados, o Confaz. A renovação desse regime é periódica e depende do cumprimento de determinados critérios