Alagoas hits suspicious record in Minha Casa program.

247 - The Uchôa Construction Company, owned by Tito Uchôa's brother, earned more than R$ 70 million from the Minha Casa, Minha Vida program in Alagoas in the last two years.

Uchôa is a partner of Renan Calheiros' (PMDB) son, federal deputy Renan Filho (PMDB), in a printing company and two radio stations, and is alleged to be a front man for the PMDB politician. His wife, Vânia Uchôa, was an employee in the senator's office.

According to Estadão, Renan allegedly used his influence at Caixa Econômica Federal (CEF) and his political control over 80% of municipalities to make contracts without a bidding process. The state is among the largest contractors for the Minha Casa program, even exceeding the government's own target of building 13 units.

Today, more than 26,8 housing units have already been contracted for over R$ 1 billion.

After spending more on the "Minha Casa Minha Vida" program in an election year than in the three years prior to the election, the government established a new rule. This Monday, through an ordinance published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU), it was stated that "authorities or public servants" cannot engage in "personal promotion" at events related to one of President Dilma Rousseff's main projects.

The NGO Contas Abertas released a survey detailing the amounts paid by the program. In 2012, R$ 10,9 billion was invested in Minha Casa Minha Vida, compared to R$ 10,6 billion between 2009 and 2011 (R$ 1,5 billion in 2009, R$ 1,5 billion in 2010 and R$ 7,5 billion in 2011).