Ricardo Salles faces investigation over alleged misuse of public campaign funds

State Deputy Emídio Souza (PT) has requested that the Electoral Public Ministry of São Paulo investigate whether Federal Deputy Ricardo Salles (Novo) misused public campaign funds to benefit political allies.

Following his withdrawal from the Senate race, Salles reportedly used approximately R$ 250,000 from the Special Campaign Financing Fund (FEFC) and the Party Fund to boost social media advertisements favoring candidates Guilherme Derrite (PP) and André do Prado (PL). The investigation seeks to determine if these funds were used to indirectly support candidates from different parties or coalitions, which is prohibited by law.

Salles's campaign received a total of R$ 4.5 million, with R$ 3.1 million originating from public funds. A judge from the Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo (TRE-SP) has acknowledged the request, noting that Salles's resignation from the Senate race does not exempt him from the legal obligation to account for his campaign expenditures.