Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says he would veto a new 5.7 billion reais or $1.09 billion electoral fund, potentially setting himself up for a fight with lawmakers whose support is crucial to fending off impeachment proceedings.
Bolsonaro, a far-right former army captain who was elected on a wave of anti-corruption sentiment, has been under pressure from his supporters to kill the generous, self-appointed package.
The fund mechanism was set up in 2017, as Brazil was roiling from years of high profile graft scandals.
A ban on corporate donations coupled with the drying up of under-the-table contributions in the wake of the scandals left lawmakers struggling to raise campaign cash, so they created the taxpayer-paid fund to offset the losses.
Bolsonaro was also under pressure to veto a 2 billion reais fund for local elections in 2020, but eventually did not, alleging he had no choice. However, the latest 5.7 billion reais package seems to be a step too far for him.
The fund was meant to be part of improvements to Brazil’s discredited political system to reduce a proliferation of parties that has made it hard to govern Latin America’s largest nation without unwieldy coalitions based on self-interest.
But critics say it only serves to provide funds for lawmakers seeking re-election in order to use the congressional immunity, and shield themselves from prosecution for corruption.
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