Bolsonaro shifts tone on campaign fund as Supreme Court weighs in

Last week, President Jair Bolsonaro said he would veto what he called an “excessive” increase approved by lawmakers to the public fund to finance political campaigns for next year’s election. Now, however, Mr. Bolsonaro conceded to signing off on a partial raise to the fund, of around BRL 2 billion (USD 390 million) as opposed to a raise of BRL 4 billion.

Since the 2018 election, it is illegal for companies to donate to political campaigns, with parties relying entirely on individual financing and the public “partisan fund.”

“Allow me to make something really clear. The law guarantees BRL 4 billion. The ‘extra,’ of [nearly] BRL 2 billion, will be vetoed,” said the president.

After slamming the increase to the fund, the president was heavily criticized by congressional allies. Indeed, several Bolsonaro-supporting lawmakers voted in favor of the change, including the president’s own son, Eduardo Bolsonaro. Deputy House Speaker Marcelo Ramos dared the president to overrule Congress and veto the bill — threatening to launch impeachment proceedings against Mr. Bolsonaro in the event he has to temporarily replace Speaker Arthur Lira.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Justice Rosa Weber gave Congress ten days to clarify their approval of the new campaign budget, after seven congressmen filed a request to nullify the vote.

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