Brazil parliamentary amendment fund investigations and rules

The Brazilian Supreme Court has authorized investigations into the allocation of approximately R$ 80 million in parliamentary amendments to Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro. The probe, requested by the Prosecutor General’s Office, targets União Brasil national president Antônio Rueda and state deputy Márcio Canella for suspected abuse of political and economic power. Investigators are examining whether these funds, recorded under generic headings between 2025 and 2026, were orchestrated by individuals not holding mandates at the time. Both Rueda and Canella have denied any wrongdoing.

In response to broader oversight, the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services has established new regulations for civil society organizations receiving parliamentary amendment funds. Following a Supreme Federal Court decision in January 2026, these rules aim to prevent nepotism and conflicts of interest by prohibiting fund allocations to third-sector organizations led by relatives of lawmakers or their advisors. The Attorney General's Office is reviewing cooperation agreements to include mandatory compliance declarations, following audits by the Office of the Comptroller General to ensure the transparency and traceability of public resources.