Brazil's Supreme Court expands investigations into misuse of public funds through amendments and targets the electoral misuse of public resources.

247 - The Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) has opened a new line of investigation into the use of parliamentary amendments, focusing on the irregular allocation of funds to election campaigns. This information was revealed based on documents from the Federal Police and the Attorney General's Office (PGR). The investigation involves evidence of bid rigging, embezzlement of public funds, and vote buying in municipalities in the interior of Ceará state.

According to the Federal Police, amendments proposed by federal deputy Júnior Mano (CE) fueled fraudulent bidding processes in cities governed by political allies. Part of the funds, after the victory of companies linked to the scheme, was allegedly used in the electoral campaigns of candidates supported by Mano in the 2024 municipal elections. The investigation indicates that the congressman "played a central role in manipulating the electoral processes, both through vote buying and by directing public funds diverted from companies controlled by the criminal group."

Scheme operated by allies and new targets

The case is under seal and is being processed by the Supreme Federal Court (STF), since it involves parliamentarians with privileged jurisdiction. According to the Federal Police (PF), the scheme was operated by Carlos Alberto Queiroz, known as Bebeto, who was elected mayor of Choró (CE), but prevented from taking office by a decision of the Electoral Court. Messages obtained by investigators show conversations between Bebeto and allies of Júnior Mano about the payment of bribes in exchange for the release of the amendments. The percentages, which reached 12%, were called "toll" or "tax" in the dialogues — a practice described by the PF as "institutionalized corruption".

In a statement, Júnior Mano denied any wrongdoing and stated that "his correct conduct will be recognized at the end of the investigation." Since 2021, the city that has received the most amendments from the congressman is Nova Russas, governed by his wife, Giordanna Mano, who was not a target of the operation.

Other parliamentarians mentioned

Besides Júnior Mano, the investigations also mention amendments associated with other parliamentarians from Ceará: José Guimarães (PT), current government leader in the Chamber; Eunício Oliveira (MDB) and Yuri do Paredão (MDB). None of the three were targets of the operation.

In a statement, Guimarães declared: “I reaffirm the fact that I did not allocate parliamentary amendments to the town of Choró (CE).” Regarding Canindé, another city mentioned, he stated that “a simple consultation with Siafi proves that I did not allocate any amendments between 2024 and 2025.”

Eunício Oliveira's press office reported that the congressman "allocates funds for projects in dozens of municipalities in Ceará, in a transparent manner and in accordance with the law," and that he has already requested the suspension of an amendment for Canindé. Yuri do Paredão, in turn, stated that "the fact that all resources are available on the Chamber's Transfer Portal demonstrates the seriousness and responsibility with which the congressman conducts his actions."

Expansion of scope and tension between the branches of government.

The discovery of the use of amendments to fund election campaigns prompted the Supreme Federal Court (STF), through a decision by Justice Gilmar Mendes, to authorize the opening of a specific investigation into the illicit use of these funds. There is an expectation that new statements from the Attorney General's Office (PGR) will be presented this semester, which worries leaders in Congress given the possibility of new precautionary measures, such as breaches of confidentiality and searches authorized by the Court.

The investigations had already led, in April, to the resignation of the then Minister of Communications, Juscelino Filho (União-MA), who was indicted by the Attorney General's Office for misappropriating funds during his previous term as a congressman. Part of the money was allegedly earmarked for paving streets in Vitorino Freire (MA), a municipality then governed by his sister.

Other recent cases

Investigations into the political use of parliamentary amendments are not isolated incidents. In February, amendments proposed by Afonso Motta (PDT-RS) were the target of a Federal Police operation, which resulted in the dismissal of his chief of staff. In March, the First Panel of the Supreme Federal Court indicted deputies Josimar Maranhãozinho (MA), Pastor Gil (MA), and alternate deputy Bosco Costa (SE), all from the PL party, accused of negotiating R$ 6,6 million in amendments in exchange for R$ 1,6 million in bribes.

In another case, the Federal Police pointed out that a state employee received a 6% commission on funds allocated by a congressman to a hospital in Santa Cruz do Sul (RS), formalized even by contract — evidence, according to the Federal Police, of systematized corruption.

CGU and the pattern of irregularities

A significant portion of these investigations originated from reports by the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), which detected atypical concentrations of amendments in municipalities linked to parliamentarians, without clear technical criteria. The evidence points to overpricing, political favoritism, and the use of shell companies to facilitate the misappropriation of funds.

The findings are exacerbating the unease between the branches of government. Behind the scenes, Supreme Court justices acknowledge that the progress of the investigations has contributed to tensions with Congress and sectors of the Executive branch. The offensive against parliamentary amendments—seen by many as a legitimate instrument of political maneuvering—raises fundamental questions about the limits of legislative autonomy and the need for greater transparency in the use of public resources.