Tourism Minister increases money kept at home by 280%.
The current Minister of Tourism, Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, saw a real increase of 280% in cash held at home over a two-year period; between the 2016 and 2018 elections, his cash reserves rose from R$105 to R$400, according to the Electoral Court; elected federal deputy for the second time in 2018, Álvaro claims to have financed 64% of his campaign out of his own pocket; he also received donations from his mother, Vilma Penido Dias, and funds from the PSL party.
247 - The then Minister of Tourism, Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, saw a real increase of 280% in cash held at home over a two-year period. Between the 2016 and 2018 elections, his cash reserves rose from R$105 to R$400, according to the Electoral Court. Elected federal deputy for the second time in 2018, Álvaro claims to have financed 64% of his campaign out of his own pocket. He also received donations from his mother, Vilma Penido Dias, and funds from the PSL party.
A report from the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo It is reported that Álvaro stated he injected R$ 383 into the campaign through electronic bank transfers.
According to the newspaper, "Marcelo Álvaro declared to the Electoral Court that he only possessed cash, in national currency – no bank accounts or financial investments. He also declared an apartment in the Buritis neighborhood, in Belo Horizonte, and a partnership in a company, Voice Lider – the same assets he has reported since 2012." The minister stated that part of the campaign funds were included in the declared reserve of R$ 400 in cash and that his asset growth is consistent with his earnings – a congressman receives R$ 33,7 gross.
The article adds that "through a statement, the press office of the Ministry of Tourism said that the minister followed the law. 'Marcelo Álvaro Antônio's asset growth is entirely consistent with the earnings of a member of parliament plus extra income such as rent from a duly declared property,' the statement highlighted, without detailing amounts or specifying which property was rented. 'The minister kept the amount in cash as declared, because it is a guaranteed right.'"