Brazil's Chamber hides R$1.3 bn in leadership amendments

A study by Transparência Brasil found that the Chamber of Deputies recorded R$1.3 billion in commission amendments for 2025 under the names of party leaders, masking the deputies who actually directed the funds. The amount represents about 16 % of all commission‑amendment allocations for the year. Seven parties – Progressistas (PP), União Brasil, Republicanos, PL, Avante, Podemos and Solidariedade – used the “leadership amendments” mechanism; PP alone accounted for R$427.7 million. The money was dispersed to many states, with Rio de Janeiro and Piauí receiving the largest shares.

The practice reproduces the logic of the now‑unconstitutional “budget secret” and hampers public oversight. The report notes that R$821 million of the 2025 allocations could not be linked to final beneficiaries, and that the lack of identifiable authors prevents tracking of the funds’ execution. Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino has already ordered the blocking of assets linked to suspected misuse of such amendments. The study calls for the abolition of leadership amendments and for stronger transparency rules, citing the 2024 Complementary Law 210 that permits leaders to submit amendments without naming the originating deputy.

The investigation highlights ongoing tensions between parliamentary practices and recent STF rulings demanding full identification of amendment sponsors.