Budget amendments and Master: Flávio's PL appears far more often than the PT

The STF convicted three PL politicians of diverting health budget amendment funds in São José de Ribamar (MA): Josimar Maranhãozinho (6 years and 5 months), Pastor Gil (5 years and 6 months) and Bosco Costa (5 years). They demanded around R$ 1.6 million in bribes^[3].

In at least seven PF operations into budget amendments from 2022 to February 2025, four PL lawmakers were targeted. None from the PT^[2]. In September 2026, Operação Make Up, into the diversion of budget amendment funds to a private company, targeted Mario Frias (PL-SP), executive producer of Dark Horse^[7].

STF Justice Flávio Dino froze R$ 119.2 million in assets belonging to PL president Valdemar Costa Neto. According to the investigation, he directed at least 21 budget amendments totalling R$ 119 million without holding elected office. He is under investigation, with no formal charges; his lawyers say he denies any crime^[8].

In the mensalão case, Valdemar was sentenced to 7 years and 10 months for passive corruption and money laundering; a pardon extinguished his sentence in 2016^[9]. At the time, his party was allied with Lula and had nominated José Alencar as vice-president; Valdemar said the money paid Lula's campaign debts^[10].

Flávio has been under STF investigation since July on suspicion of money laundering, illegal foreign currency transfers and corruption in the financing of Dark Horse: R$ 61 million allegedly came from Daniel Vorcaro, Master's owner. Eduardo Bolsonaro is also a target. Flávio says there is nothing wrong with seeking private funds^[4].

The party's leader in the Chamber, Sóstenes Cavalcante, and Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ) were targeted by Operação Galho Fraco: R$ 28.6 million in suspicious transactions in the accounts of aides and party employees linked to the two, and R$ 400 thousand in cash at a house belonging to Sóstenes. Jordy denies wrongdoing and alleges persecution^[11].

In the Master case, Jaques Wagner (PT-BA), the Lula government's Senate leader, was targeted by the PF; he says he never took part in any intermediation^[6]. In the INSS fraud case, the PF targeted a secretary in the Lula government and a deputy government leader from the PDT; no PL politician^[12].

In June 2025, an operation into budget amendments in Bahia targeted two former PT mayors, who are not lawmakers^[13]. The PL has the largest caucus in the Chamber^[14], but in the budget amendments and Master cases, the party that appears most often is Flávio's. On October 25, it is on the ballot.