In one week, candidates will start broadcasting their ads on TV and radio. Free airtime is divided among candidates based on how many lower house seats their coalition has (chart below). Free, of course, is a figure of speech. Parties don’t pay for the airtime – taxpayers do. In exchange for the time slots, TV and radio broadcasters get hefty tax cuts. In 2018 alone, this airtime should cost taxpayers over BRL 1 billion.
Ads for the...