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Mapa do Segundo Turno
Mapa do Segundo Turno

30/ 47Electioneering measures

Bolsonaro’s benefit had an end date. Lula’s became law.

In 2022, with an allied Congress, the Bolsonaro government passed benefits that were valid only until the end of the year[1][2]. Lula faced revenue defeats and still made Bolsa Família, the minimum wage and the income tax exemption permanent rules[3][4][5].

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6 story images and a link to this page.

A benefit with an end date, a benefit in law

  1. 30 Mar. 2020 · Flávio’s vote

    The Senate approves the R$ 600 emergency aid 79 to 0. Flávio votes yes[6].

  2. 3 Sept. 2020 · Bolsonaro government

    MP 1,000 extends the aid until December, but at R$ 300, half of the R$ 600 paid from April to August[7].

  3. June 30, 2022 · Congress

    The Senate approves, 67 to 1, the PEC recognizing a state of emergency in an election year: R$ 41.25 bn outside the cap, with R$ 200 more in Auxílio Brasil[1]. Flávio votes yes[8].

  4. July 13, 2022 · Congress

    The Chamber approves the PEC 469 to 17. The measures are “valid only until the end of this year”[2].

  5. Aug. 2022 · Bolsonaro government

    The 2023 Budget provides Auxílio Brasil of R$ 405, not R$ 600[9], and cuts R$ 1.2 bn from the free medicines of Farmácia Popular[10].

  6. 11 Oct. 2022 · Bolsonaro government

    Between the two rounds, Auxílio Brasil payroll loans start, at 3.45% interest a month[11].

  7. 20 Dec. 2022 · Flávio’s vote

    The Senate approves the Transition PEC 63 to 11. Flávio votes no in both rounds[12].

  8. Dec. 2022 · Lula government

    The PEC is enacted and sets aside R$ 70 bn to pay the R$ 600 in 2023. Families do not lose the amount in January[13].

  9. 19 June 2023 · Lula government

    Law 14,601 recreates Bolsa Família, with a top-up to R$ 600 per family and R$ 150 per child up to age 6[3].

  10. 23 Aug. 2023 · Lula government

    The Chamber approves, with 439 votes, the permanent minimum wage adjustment policy and the income tax exemption up to R$ 2,640[4].

  11. 1 Oct. 2025 · Lula government

    The Chamber approves the income tax exemption up to R$ 5,000, 493 to 0[5].

The timeline compares what each government proposed and what became a rule; it does not compare the total cost or each government’s whole relationship with Congress.

Deadline

Approved to end in December

The 2022 PEC passed 67 to 1 in the Senate and 469 to 17 in the Chamber[1][2]. The benefit arrived less than four months before the election, valid until the end of the year[1].

At the end of August, the 2023 Budget sent by the government provided R$ 405 instead of the promised R$ 600[9] and took R$ 1.2 bn from the free medicines of Farmácia Popular, while setting aside R$ 19.4 bn for the secret budget[10].

Law

What became a rule

The Transition PEC kept the R$ 600 in January 2023[13]. In June, Law 14,601 wrote Bolsa Família into law[3]. In August came the permanent minimum wage adjustment[4]. The income tax exemption up to R$ 5,000 was approved in 2025[5][14].

None of this came free: the Transition PEC opened R$ 145 bn above the cap[13].

Strategy

The calendar as a tool

Congress defeated Lula on revenue. It struck down the IOF decree 383 to 98, the first time in 33 years this happened to a decree[15]. It let the MP taxing betting and investments expire[16] and overturned 43 of Lula’s 87 vetoes[17].

The government took the agenda to the streets with the “Taxação BBB” campaign, to “increase public pressure on Congress”[18]. On the income tax exemption, according to PlatôBR, “the opposition had no way to vote against it”[19]. It passed 493 to 0 in the Chamber and unanimously in the Senate[5][14].

The vote

Yes to the deadline, no to the law

Flávio voted yes on the 2020 aid and yes on the 2022 PEC[6][8]. In December 2022, he voted no on the PEC that secured the R$ 600 after the election[12]. On the 25th, each person decides which of the two votes weighs more.

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References19 sources

  1. 01Poder360 · Senado aprova auxílio de R$ 600 e dobra valor do vale-gásPEC on a state of emergency in an election year: 67 to 1, R$ 41.25 bn outside the cap, valid until the end of the year.(opens in a new tab)
  2. 02Diário do Nordeste · ‘PEC Kamikaze’ é aprovada em segundo turno na CâmaraChamber approves the PEC 469 to 17; the measures are valid only until the end of 2022.(opens in a new tab)
  3. 03Câmara dos Deputados · Lei nº 14.601, de 19 de junho de 2023 – Publicação OriginalBolsa Família in law: a top-up to R$ 600 per family and R$ 150 per child aged 0 to under 7.(opens in a new tab)
  4. 04Congresso em Foco · Câmara aprova MP do salário mínimo com isenção para quem ganha até R$ 2.640Chamber approves, with 439 votes, the permanent minimum wage adjustment policy and the income tax exemption up to R$ 2,640.(opens in a new tab)
  5. 05Poder360 · 493 deputados votaram pela isenção do IR; saiba quem sãoChamber approves the income tax exemption up to R$ 5,000, 493 to 0.(opens in a new tab)
  6. 06Senado Federal · Votações da matéria PL 1066/2020R$ 600 emergency aid approved 79 to 0; Flávio Bolsonaro votes yes.(opens in a new tab)
  7. 07Agência Senado · MPs do auxílio emergencial residual perdem vigênciaMP 1,000/2020, published on September 3, extended the aid until December at R$ 300, half of the R$ 600.(opens in a new tab)
  8. 08Senado Federal · Votações da matéria PEC 1/2022Flávio Bolsonaro votes yes in both rounds of the 2022 PEC.(opens in a new tab)
  9. 09InfoMoney · Governo manda Orçamento com Auxílio Brasil de R$ 405 em 2023, apesar de Bolsonaro prometer R$ 600The 2023 Budget bill provided Auxílio Brasil of R$ 405.(opens in a new tab)
  10. 10O Povo (Estadão) · Economia foi alertada pela Saúde sobre o efeito de cortes no Farmácia PopularFree medicines fall from R$ 2.04 bn to R$ 804 mn in the 2023 Budget; R$ 19.4 bn set aside for the secret budget.(opens in a new tab)
  11. 11CNN Brasil · Consignado do Auxílio Brasil terá juros de 3,45% ao mêsAuxílio Brasil payroll loans start on October 11, between rounds, at 3.45% interest a month.(opens in a new tab)
  12. 12Senado Federal · Votações da matéria PEC 32/2022 (fase 2)Transition PEC approved 63 to 11; Flávio Bolsonaro votes no in both rounds.(opens in a new tab)
  13. 13O Povo (Agência Brasil) · Congresso promulga PEC da TransiçãoR$ 145 bn above the cap, R$ 70 bn for the R$ 600 in 2023; families do not lose the amount in January.(opens in a new tab)
  14. 14CNN Brasil · Por unanimidade, Senado aprova isenção do IR para quem ganha até R$ 5 milThe Senate approves the income tax exemption up to R$ 5,000 unanimously.(opens in a new tab)
  15. 15O Povo · Congresso susta alta do IOF e derruba decreto pela 1ª vez em 33 anosChamber strikes down the IOF decree 383 to 98; the first decree overturned in 33 years.(opens in a new tab)
  16. 16Fenacon · Câmara retira de pauta a MP sobre tributação de investimentos; texto perderá validadeAt the opposition’s request, MP 1303 is taken off the agenda and expires.(opens in a new tab)
  17. 17Jornal de Brasília (Folhapress) · Congresso derruba metade dos vetos de Lula e muda dinâmica de governabilidadeIn three years, Congress overturned 43 of Lula’s 87 vetoes.(opens in a new tab)
  18. 18InfoMoney · Lula exibe cartaz da “Taxação BBB” durante ato e reforça discurso contra super-ricosThe “Taxação BBB” campaign focuses on increasing public pressure on Congress.(opens in a new tab)
  19. 19PlatôBR · Resultado raro mostra Congresso sócio do governo em isenção do IR, de olho em 2026“The opposition had no way to vote against a proposal bearing Lula’s seal.”(opens in a new tab)