Congress aides donate R$2m to candidates, sometimes topping salary

A total of 444 congressional staffers—341 in the Lower House and 103 in the Senate—contributed the equivalent of R$2 million to election campaigns this year. Of that total, R$724,000 came in cash via bank transfers or Pix, while another R$1.3 million arrived as in‑kind donations—unpaid services, effectively volunteer campaign work.

The data show that 241 employees contributed about R$1 million—R$922,700 in unpaid services and R$160,100 in cash—benefiting the campaigns of 101 incumbent candidates. Most donations (75%) were relatively small, up to R$5,000, but in some cases they exceeded the staffer’s monthly congressional salary. Candidates from the Liberal Party and the Workers’ Party, which also receive the largest shares of Brazil’s public campaign fund, benefited the most from these contributions, which went to candidates for the federal and state legislatures.

Among the candidates receiving the largest amounts in unpaid services is Jean Bolsonaro, the 24‑year‑old son of Congressman Hélio Lopes, who is politically known as Hélio Bolsonaro. Four members of his father’s staff are working for Jean’s campaign without pay—one as campaign coordinator, one handling social media, and two as drivers, according to campaign finance filings with the electoral authorities. Their services are valued at a combined R$41,000. The only cash donation that would exceed the 10% ceiling based solely on the donor’s congressional salary was made to Senator Plínio Valério, of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, who is seeking reelection. He received R$40,000 via Pix from aide Celso Castelo Branco Garcia, whose gross monthly salary is R$19,500.

Read the full story at Valor International.