# Opaque appointments deepen the crisis of trust (_An earlier Portuguese [version](https://exame.com/colunistas/instituto-millenium/nomeacoes-sem-transparencia-aprofundam-a-crise-de-confianca/) of this text, co-authored with Joice Toyota, Executive Director at Motriz, appeared on March 17, 2025, in Instituto Millenium’s column for Exame magazine_) Recently, a [series of articles](https://www.estadao.com.br/politica/governo-criou-filiais-do-ministerio-da-cultura-e-as-deu-a-petistas-para-defesa-da-democracia/) published by the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo has raised concerns regarding the criteria used to appoint more than 80 "trust based appointments" (_cargos comissionados_, or at-will employment positions directly recruited without competitive examination) in the Ministry of Culture’s state offices. Regardless of the technical qualifications of the appointed individuals, the lack of clearly defined and transparent selection processes undermines public perception of both the capability and integrity behind these appointments. This damages not only the legitimacy of public administration but also trust in democratic institutions themselves. While established selection mechanisms, such as public competitive exams (concursos públicos) or simplified selection procedures, are widely regulated and typically overseen by external entities—thus ensuring positive societal perceptions—these processes are not immune to criticism. Often, procedural rigidity serves primarily to protect institutions from legal challenges rather than to strategically select the most suitable candidates, thereby limiting the flexibility needed for high-quality appointments. Nevertheless, the institutional vulnerability is even more pronounced in politically appointed positions of trust, typically filled without competition and at the discretion of political leaders, particularly in strategic leadership roles. This issue is neither new nor limited to specific administrations. Operation "Carne Fraca," initiated in 2017, clearly demonstrated the risks associated with non-transparent political appointments, exposing [illicit payments made by the company JBS to individuals holding leadership positions in regional offices of the Ministry of Agriculture](https://valor.globo.com/agronegocios/noticia/2017/07/13/jbs-pagava-mensalinho-a-200-fiscais-sanitarios.ghtml). Cases like this illustrate that unclear and non-transparent criteria can facilitate corruption and further erode societal trust. International experiences offer crucial lessons for the Brazilian context. [[Sistema de Alta Dirección Pública (SADP)|In Chile]], for instance, a [plural council](https://www.serviciocivil.cl/consejo-alta-direccion-publica/) composed of specialists appointed by both government and opposition oversees strategic recruitments. Countries like Germany and Uruguay frequently invite external institutions - including trade unions and civil society organizations - to monitor recruitment processes, thereby enhancing social and institutional legitimacy. Promising initiatives are already emerging at the local level [[Executive recruitment in brazilian public sector|in Brazil]]. State programs such as "[Transforma Minas](https://www.mg.gov.br/transforma-minas)" and "[Qualifica RS](https://qualificars.rs.gov.br/inicial)" have made significant progress by implementing transparent, competency-based selection procedures, thereby increasing trust in the appointments made. However, for these practices to become genuinely transformative, they must be institutionalized and no longer dependent solely on isolated initiatives or the goodwill of individual managers. Another promising yet underutilized approach in Brazil involves strategic partnerships with specialized executive recruitment firms or civil society entities. National examples, such as initiatives conducted by the organization [Motriz](https://www.motriz.org/), demonstrate both the technical feasibility and political viability of this practice, contributing significantly to the credibility and technical quality of selection processes. A concrete proposal, though still not widely adopted, was suggested approximately a decade ago by "[Agenda Brasil do Futuro](https://repositorio.enap.gov.br/bitstream/1/3418/1/Agenda%20Brasil%20do%20Futuro%20-%20Marina%20Can%C3%A7ado.pdf)": requiring public administrations to systematically publish detailed descriptions of job responsibilities, the resumes of appointees, and those responsible for selections. The recent 2022 launch of the "[Líderes que Transformam](https://enap.gov.br/pt/servicos/lideres-que-transformam#:~:text=O%20Programa%20L%C3%ADderes%20que%20Transformam,e%20pr%C3%A9%2Dsele%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20por%20compet%C3%AAncias.)" program by the [[Escola Nacional de Administração Pública (ENAP)|National School of Public Administration (ENAP)]], with technical support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), represents a meaningful step in this direction, laying foundations for deeper institutional reform. Promoting professional standards and transparent procedures in selecting positions of trust and political appointments in leadership roles is more than an administrative efficiency issue; it is a democratic imperative. At a global moment marked by growing distrust toward public service and democratic institutions, ensuring clarity and legitimacy in appointments is essential to prevent social frustrations from fueling radicalism or destructive alternatives. Ultimately, it is not sufficient for public service merely to be honest - it must also visibly demonstrate honesty to reinforce public trust in Brazilian democracy.