corruption in Brazil

All types of corruption exist. Clientilism, cronyism, and nepotism are widespread in Brazil, and many critics note that members of the Brazilian Supreme Court openly mingle with politicians. Bribery (Portuguese: propina or suborno) is also rife throughout the Brazilian bureaucracy. But one of the most common types of corruption in Brazil is embezzlement of public funds through overbilling, called superfaturamento in Portuguese (literally "super invoicing"). This technique allows individuals to enrich themselves, and also finance political campaigns (as seen in the Petrobras scandal), and is closely linked to public contracts with private enterprises.{{Cite journal |title="Não há uma cidade, um Estado no Brasil, sem obra superfaturada" |url=https://brasil.elpais.com/brasil/2014/11/18/politica/1416338061_677570.html |journal=El País |access-date=October 15, 2020 |language=pt-br |last=Novaes|first=Marina|date=November 19, 2014 }} Construction contracts to build roads, sewage, and public buildings are frequently involved. An estimated 30% of all Brazilian public funds are embezzled this way each year.{{Cite web|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/opiniao/fz0903201001.htm|title=Folha de S.Paulo – Editoriais: O custo da corrupção – 09/03/2010|website=www1.folha.uol.com.br|access-date=February 1, 2017}}

Fernando Filgueiras writes: tolerance to corruption is not a deviation of the Brazilian character, a propensity and cult of immorality, not even a situation of cordiality, but a practical disposition born of a culture in which preferences are limited to a context of needs, representing a survival strategy that occurs through the material issue.{{Cite journal|last=Filgueiras|first=Fernando|date= December 1, 2009|title=A tolerância à corrupção no Brasil: uma antinomia entre normas morais e prática social|journal=Opinião Pública|language=pt|volume=15|issue=2|pages=386–421|doi=10.1590/S0104-62762009000200005|issn=0104-6276|doi-access=free}} According to Raymundo Faoro, corruption is a "vice" inherited from the Iberian world, the result of a patrimonialist relationship between government and society.{{Cite web|title="A tolerância à corrupção no Brasil: uma antinomia entre normas morais e prática social"|url=http://www.consocial.cgu.gov.br/uploads/biblioteca_arquivos/151/arquivo_eed91c6bbe.pdf}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The scale of corruption in Brazil is immense, but largely under-reported in the media and historically not investigated, prosecuted or punished, so it is difficult to estimate just how large the problem is. The Car Wash (Lava Jato) investigation may have changed this. Corruption in Brazil increases the already enormous Brazilian shadow economy,{{Cite web|url=http://www.etico.org.br/user_file/shadowEconomy/03_Artigo_Tanzi_Shadow_Economy.pdf|title=Brazilian Shadow Economy|last=Tanzi|access-date=February 1, 2017|archive-date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809212339/http://www.etico.org.br/user_file/shadowEconomy/03_Artigo_Tanzi_Shadow_Economy.pdf|url-status=dead}} which some sources estimate at 16.1% of the gross domestic product,{{Cite news|url=http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-business/brazils-informal-economy-was-worth-r826-billion-in-2014/|title=Brazil's Informal Economy was Worth R$826 Billion in 2014 {{!}} The Rio Times {{!}} Brazil News|last=Reporter|first=Contributing|date=June 26, 2015|newspaper=The Rio Times|language=en-US|access-date=February 1, 2017}} a number that probably needs to be adjusted up considerably if corruption as such is included as part of the shadow economy.

Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index gave Brazil a score of 34 on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean"), its lowest score since the current system of scoring began in 2012. When ranked by score, Brazil ranked 107th among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector.{{Cite web |title=The ABCs of the CPI: How the Corruption Perceptions Index is calculated |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/news/how-cpi-scores-are-calculated |date=11 February 2025 |access-date=13 April 2025 |website=Transparency.org| language=en}} For comparison with regional scores, the highest score among the countries of the Americas{{efn |Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela|group="Note"}} was 76, the average score was 42 and the lowest score was 10.{{Cite web |title=CPI 2024 for the Americas: Corruption fuels environmental crime and impunity across the region |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2024-americas-corruption-fuels-environmental-crime-impunity-across-region |access-date=13 April 2025 |website=Transparency.org|language=en}} For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 90 (ranked 1), the average score was 43, and the worst score was 8 (ranked 180).{{Cite web |title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2024: Brazil |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024/index/bra |access-date=13 April 2025 |website=Transparency.org |language=en}}

Political corruption is widespread in Brazil. A series of sources documenting historical corruption have only recently started to be published, some of them with references up to Colonial times.{{cite book |last1=Romeiro |first1=Adriana |title=Corrupção e poder no Brasil: uma história, séculos XVI a XVIII |date=2017 |publisher=Editora Autentica |location=Belo Horizonte |isbn=9788551302682}}{{cite news |last1=Martins |first1=Fernando |title=Pequena história da corrupção no Brasil |url=https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/vida-publica/pequena-historia-da-corrupcao-no-brasil-9y0cqugk561vl4rrhkgaz4fqo/ |access-date=October 20, 2018 |work=Gazeta do Povo |publisher=Grupo Paranaense de Comunicação |date=December 9, 2016}} A unique complex network analysis{{cite journal |last1=Ribeiro |first1=Haroldo |last2=Alves |first2=Luis |last3=Martins |first3=Alvaro |last4=Lenzi |first4=Ervin |last5=Perc |first5=Matjaz |title=The dynamical structure of political corruption networks |journal=Journal of Complex Networks |date=2018 |volume=6 |issue=6 |pages=989–1003 |doi=10.1093/comnet/cny002 |arxiv=1801.01869 |bibcode=2018arXiv180101869R }} revealed associations between those involved in corruption scandals included not only active (elected and non-elected) politicians, but also both state-owned and private companies favored in bidding processes for large infrastructure construction projects. Some of these were cited both in the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers.

The complexity of such corruption networks has been compared to mafia, drug traffic networks and terrorist networks.{{cite news |title=Por trás do verdadeiro mecanismo de corrupção do Brasil |url=https://brasil.elpais.com/brasil/2018/03/28/politica/1522247105_599766.html |access-date=October 20, 2018 |work=El Pais |date=March 29, 2018}}

The practice of {{lang|pt|superfaturamento}}—invoice-padding—in Brazil is a common form of corruption in contracts and purchases for public institutions. Recent examples have been reported in small primary schools{{Cite news|url=http://www.ovale.com.br/psdb-ve-superfaturamento-em-compra-de-kits-escolares-1.500920|title=PSDB vê superfaturamento em compra de kits escolares|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021111410/http://www2.ovale.com.br/psdb-ve-superfaturamento-em-compra-de-kits-escolares-1.500920|archive-date=October 21, 2018|url-status=dead}} where products like pencils and notebooks were bought with padded invoices, as well as in grand-scale construction projects,{{Cite web|url=https://politica.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,para-lembrar-o-escandalo-de-superfaturamento-na-construcao-do-forum-trabalhista-de-sao-paulo,10000001753|title=PARA LEMBRAR: O superfaturamento na obra do Fórum Trabalhista de São Paulo |website=politica.estadao.com.br}}{{Cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/ap/amapa/noticia/2016/08/tcu-identifica-superfaturamento-na-obra-do-aeroporto-de-macapa.html|title=TCU identifica superfaturamento na obra do aeroporto de Macapa|date=August 20, 2016|website=g1.globo.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/economia/noticia/2016/11/tcu-ve-indicios-de-superfaturamento-de-r-34-bi-em-obras-de-belo-monte.html|title=TCU vê indícios de superfaturamento de R$ 3,4 bi em obras de Belo Monte|first1=Laís LisDo|last1=G1|first2=em|last2=Brasília|date=November 9, 2016|website=g1.globo.coma}} roads,{{Cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/mato-grosso/noticia/2017/01/governo-investiga-7-servidores-por-superfaturamento-em-obra-de-rodovia.html|title=Governo investiga 7 servidores por superfaturamento em obra de rodovia|first=Do G1|last=MT|date=January 23, 2017|website=g1.globo.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/sao-paulo/noticia/2014/03/alstom-pagou-r-48-mi-em-propina-e-superfaturamento-diz-ex-executivo.html|title=Alstom pagou R$ 48 mi em propina e superfaturamento, diz ex-executivo|first=Do G1 São|last=Paulo|date=March 19, 2014|website=São Paulo}} football stadiums,{{Cite web|url=https://copadomundo.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2014/04/15/tribunal-de-contas-aponta-superfaturamento-de-r-67-mi-em-obra-do-maracana.htm|title=Tribunal de Contas aponta superfaturamento de R$ 67 mi em obra do Maracanã|website=UOL Copa do Mundo 2014}}{{Cite web|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2015/08/1668585-pf-deflagra-operacao-de-combate-ao-superfaturamento-em-estadio-da-copa.shtml|title=Ação da PF investiga Odebrecht em suspeita de desvio em estádio da Copa – 14/08/2015 – Poder|website=folha.uol.com.br}}{{Cite web|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/esporte/folhanacopa/2014/03/1426140-estadio-de-brasilia-foi-superfaturado-aponta-tribunal-de-contas.shtml|title=Estádio de Brasília foi superfaturado, aponta Tribunal de Contas – 16/03/2014 – Folha na Copa – Esporte|website=Folha de S.Paulo}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.lance.com.br/futebol-nacional/obras-copa-2014-sao-citadas-delacao-lava-jato.html|title=Obras de estádios da Copa-2014 são citadas em delação da Lava Jato|website=m.lance.com.br}} (not least in connection with large-scale events such as the Olympics and FIFA's World Cup). Furthermore, bribes are also common in the police.{{Cite web|url=https://opiniao.estadao.com.br/noticias/notas-e-informacoes,corrupcao-na-policia,70002653955 |title=Corrupção na polícia |date=December 21, 2018 |access-date=October 14, 2020 |website=Estadão|language=pt-BR}}

Generally, corruption occurs through resources from the public budgets of the union, states, and municipalities destined to health, education, social security and social and infrastructure programs, which are siphoned off to fund election campaigns, corrupt public officials, or even into personal bank accounts abroad. On October 13, 2020, Transparency International pointed to a "progressive deterioration of the institutional anti-corruption framework in the country" and serious setbacks in the fight against corruption in Brazil.{{Cite web |url=https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2020/10/13/transparencia-internacional-aponta-em-relatorios-retrocessos-no-combate-a-corrupcao-no-brasil.ghtml |title=Transparência Internacional aponta em relatórios 'retrocessos' no combate à corrupção no Brasil |access-date=October 15, 2020 |website=G1 |language=pt-br}}{{Cite web|url=https://politica.estadao.com.br/blogs/fausto-macedo/apos-bolsonaro-dizer-que-acabou-com-a-lava-jato-transparencia-internacional-aponta-progressivo-desmanche-do-arcabouco-legal-e-institucional-anticorrupcao-no-brasil/ |title=Após Bolsonaro dizer que 'acabou com a Lava Jato', Transparência Internacional aponta 'progressivo desmanche do arcabouço legal e institucional anticorrupção' no Brasil |date=October 13, 2020 |access-date=October 10, 2020|website=Estadão|language=pt-br}}

{{See also|List of scandals in Brazil}}

File:Reading of the letter of Caminha.jpg reads to commander Pedro Álvares Cabral the letter that would be sent to king Manuel I of Portugal.]]

Nepotism may have arrived in Brazil with the first caravel. A letter written by Pero Vaz de Caminha, asks the king to order "from the island of São Tomé to fetch Jorge de Osório, my son-in-law".{{Cite web|last=Ferreira|first=José Carlos Fonseca|date=June 2012|title=Nepotismo na Empresa Familiar: bom ou ruim?|url=http://bancopublicacoes.espm.br/arquivos/201208021044_009044nepotismo_na_empresa_familiar_bom_ou.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=July 12, 2014|website=Gestão e Negócios|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714174249/http://bancopublicacoes.espm.br/arquivos/201208021044_009044nepotismo_na_empresa_familiar_bom_ou.pdf |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }} To occupy and administer the new territory, a task quite complicated by the geographic distance and precariousness of communications, the Portuguese crown had to offer incentives and relaxed the vigilance of its representatives. This generated an environment so favorable to the practice of corruption,{{Cite web|title=BBC Brasil – Notícias – Corrupção no Brasil tem origem no período colonial, diz historiadora|url=https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/noticias/2012/11/121026_corrupcao_origens_mdb|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=www.bbc.com|language=pt-BR}} that already in the 17th century, Padre Antônio Vieira denounced it in the Sermon of the Good Thief:{{Cite web|last=Gruman|first=Marcelo|date=June 2008|title=A atualidade de Padre Antônio Vieira|url=http://www.espacoacademico.com.br/085/85esp_gruman.htm|url-status=live|access-date=July 11, 2014|website=Revista Espaço Acadêmico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905132648/http://www.espacoacademico.com.br/085/85esp_gruman.htm |archive-date=September 5, 2008 }}

{{cquote| (...) the thieves who most properly and dignifiedly deserve this title are those to whom the kings entrust the armies and legions, or the government of the provinces, or the administration of the cities... other thieves rob a man: they rob cities and kingdoms; others steal at their risk: these without fear or danger; the others, if they steal, are hanged: these steal and hang.}}

There have been reports of corruption in the highest spheres of power since the beginning of the 19th century. At that time, the following verses ran through the streets of the national capital:{{efn|Sources diverge on the exact period of these verses, whether in the Joanine period – in the years of the permanence of the Portuguese royal family in Brazil,{{Cite web|title=Folha de S.Paulo – Do ladrão ao barão – 03/06/2007|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/mais/fs0306200707.htm|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=www1.folha.uol.com.br}}{{Cite web|date=September 5, 2015|title=Historiadores resgatam episódios de corrupção no Brasil Colônia e na época do Império|url=https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/historia/historiadores-resgatam-episodios-de-corrupcao-no-brasil-colonia-na-epoca-do-imperio-17410324|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=O Globo|language=pt-BR}} or in the imperial period.{{Cite web|title=Quais são as raízes da corrupção no Brasil|url=https://www.nexojornal.com.br/expresso/2017/04/13/Quais-s%C3%A3o-as-ra%C3%ADzes-da-corrup%C3%A7%C3%A3o-no-Brasil|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=Nexo Jornal|language=pt-BR}}}}

{{blockquote|Whoever steals a little is a thief
Whoever steals a lot is a baron
Whoever steals and hides the most
Goes from baron to viscount}}

In the era before the military dictatorship, a particularly notable example was the city of Brasília itself, which historians believe was systematically overpriced when built in the early 1960s.{{cn|date=February 2023}}

Little to no evidence of corruption was made public during the military dictatorship era (1964–1985). Recently, however, several cases have become increasingly public knowledge and have been reviewed in books including Elio Gaspari's series of historical analyses{{cite book |last1=Campos |first1=Pedro Henrique Pereira |title=Estranhas Catedrais. As Empreiteiras Brasileiras e a Ditadura Civil-Militar. 1964–1988 |date=2014 |publisher=Eduff |location=Niterói |isbn=978-8522809844}} and in the news.{{cite news |title=Conheça dez histórias de corrupção durante a ditadura militar |url=https://noticias.uol.com.br/politica/ultimas-noticias/2015/04/01/conheca-dez-historias-de-corrupcao-durante-a-ditadura-militar.htm |work=UOL Notícias |agency=UOL |date=April 2015}}{{cite news |title=Corrupção na ditadura militar era maior que hoje em dia, revela historiador |url=https://www.pragmatismopolitico.com.br/2018/07/corrupcao-na-ditadura-militar-maior.html |access-date=October 21, 2018 |work=Pragmatismo Político |date=July 5, 2018}} Cases ranged from smuggling whiskey and luxury clothes to outright extortion of companies by military-appointed governors (e.g., Haroldo Leon Peres in the state of Paraná), who illegally favored their companies in contractor licensing (e.g. Antonio Carlos Magalhães and Magnesita) and used public money to save their own companies from bankruptcy (e.g., Paulo Maluf and his wife Sylvia in the Lutfalla case). British documents pointed out a number of other cases which were suppressed in the 1970s referring to overpriced purchase of UK equipment for construction of ships in Brazil.{{cite news |title=Ditadura abafou apuração de corrupção dos anos 70, revelam documentos britânicos |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2018/06/ditadura-abafou-apuracao-de-corrupcao-dos-anos-70-revelam-documentos-britanicos.shtml |access-date=October 21, 2018 |work=Folha de S. Paulo |date=June 2, 2018}}

With the fall of the military dictatorship and the start of the redemocratization process, accusations of endemic corruption in all spheres of government were highlighted and started to receive attention, with then-President José Sarney himself being denounced, although those accusations were not taken forward by the National Congress. In the period between 1987 and 1989 a political crisis, allied to the economic crisis, broke out. Suspicions of overpricing and irregularities in public infrastructure projects were cited, such as the bidding for the North–South Rail.{{Cite web |url=http://www.desempregozero.org.br/editoriais/ferrovia_nortesul_entre_a_prioridade_e_a_ideologia.php |title=Editorial sítio Desemprego Zero |access-date=October 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004180634/http://www.desempregozero.org.br/editoriais/ferrovia_nortesul_entre_a_prioridade_e_a_ideologia.php |archive-date=October 4, 2008 |url-status=dead }} The accusations also said that José Sarney practiced nepotism, that is, he favored friends and acquaintances with concessions on radios and TVs. The dissatisfaction in a wing of the Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (PMDB), the current MDB, led to the founding of the Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira (PSDB). The height of the crisis came during the creation of the new constitution at the National Constituent Assembly, where party members put the duration of his mandate in check, voting for a four-year term for Sarney, despite the five-year thesis prevailing, led by a majority of the caucus PMDB and conservative politicians.

A Parliamentary Investigation Commission (CPI) was started in 1988 to investigate the corruption accusations, and several requests for impeachment were filed, The CPI named the former president as one of those responsible for the scheme, for having released money from funds controlled by the Presidency to municipalities, without criteria. As soon as the funds ran out, Sarney used the so-called contingency reserve with the help of the Minister of Planning, Aníbal Teixeira.{{cite web|url=http://veja.abril.com.br/infograficos/rede-escandalos/perfil/jose-sarney.shtml|title=Tesoureira da Igreja Universal nos Estados Unidos é condenada|publisher=Rede de escândalos|access-date=February 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307203739/http://veja.abril.com.br/infograficos/rede-escandalos/perfil/jose-sarney.shtml|archive-date=March 7, 2014|url-status=dead}}

In the last two decades of the 20th century, particularly after the end of the military regime, notorious cases of corruption gained great prominence in the media, having even resulted in the removal of Fernando Collor de Mello – first president of Latin America to suffer an actual impeachment process.{{cite web|url=http://educacao.uol.com.br/historia-brasil/impeachment-collor-foi-primeiro-alvo-de-impeachment-na-america-latina.jhtm|editor=Uol Educação|title=Collor foi o primeiro alvo de impeachment na América Latina|author=Carlos Ferreira}}

The first accusations appeared in the second semester of Collor's government. The then-president of Petrobras, Luís Octávio da Motta Veiga, quit, alleging pressure from the former financial secretary of Collor's campaign, Paulo César Farias ("PC Farias"), and the president's brother-in-law, ambassador Marcos Coimbra, to offer loans to the airline company VASP, which had been recently privatized. In 1991 the First Lady Rosane Collor was accused of irregularities at the charity {{ILL|Legião Brasileira de Assistência|pt}} (LBA). In May 1992, Pedro Collor, the president's brother, accused PC Farias of illicit enrichment and being a "goon" for the president in his business in an interview to Veja.{{cite web|url=https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/a-incomoda-companhia-dos-escandalos-casos-de-corrupcao-estouraram-em-todos-os-governos-15598762#ixzz5FLUKNBcWstest |title=A incômoda companhia dos escândalos: casos de corrupção estouraram em todos os governos|publisher=Uol|date=March 16, 2016|access-date=May 15, 2018}}

From 1993, the extent of the accusations shook faith in the institutions and future of the country, and sparked the installation of a Parliament Investigation Committee (CPI), which became known as the CPI do Orçamento, presided over by then-senator Jarbas Passarinho and having as rapporteur the governor of Pernambuco at the time, Roberto Magalhães. In 2014, however, former President Collor was exculpated and acquitted by the Supremo Tribunal Federal of allegations of corruption that were brought against him and which had resulted in his impeachment.{{cite web|url =http://noticias.uol.com.br/politica/ultimas-noticias/2014/04/28/apos-absolvicao-collor-pergunta-quem-me-devolvera-o-que-me-foi-tomado.htm |title=After the acquittal, Collor asks: 'Who will return to me what was taken from me?'|website=noticias.uol.com.br|date=April 28, 2014|access-date=July 11, 2014}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2022}}

The new government assumed by Vice President Itamar Franco was initially supported by all political forces in Congress, except the Liberal Front Party (PFL), which also began to suffer allegations of involvement of ministers in corruption. Several of his ministers, including Henrique Hargreaves and Alexandre Costa.

Fernando Henrique Cardoso's government, led by the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), was also hit by a series of corruption accusations, firstly regarding federal "help" offered to banks such as Nacional and Econômico, and the creation of the {{ILL|Proer|pt|Programa de Estímulo à Reestruturação e ao Fortalecimento do Sistema Financeiro Nacional}}.

Many issues involved the privatization of state companies. One of the people cited in the accusations was a former director of Banco do Brasil, Ricardo Sérgio de Oliveira, who was in charge of financial resources for FHC's campaign, and was said to favor business with a consortium of Telecom Itália and Daniel Dantas' Opportunity Asset bank. Phone call recordings were central to several accusations regarding the PSDB. Conversations between the minister of Communications, {{ILL|Luiz Carlos Mendonça de Barros|pt}}, and the then-president of the Brazilian Development Bank, BNDES, {{ILL|André Lara Resende|pt}}, demonstrated efforts to benefit the Opportunity consortium.

Probably the worst accusations referred to the purchase of Congressional votes to introduce a constitutional amendment to allow for reelection to executive roles, namely the president. Telephone recordings made public by Folha de S.Paulo in 1997 revealed conversations between representative Ronivon Santiago (Progressistas Party – State of Acre) and a voice identified by the journal as Senhor X, to whom Ronivon Santiago reports that he received, along with four other representatives, 200 thousand reais to vote for the reelection amendment, paid by the then-governor of the state of Acre, Orleir Cameli.{{cite web|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/80anos/marcos_do_jornalismo-01a.shtml|author=RODRIGUES, Fernando|title=Deputado diz que vendeu seu voto a favor da reeleição por R$ 200 mil|publisher=Uol|work=Folha de S.Paulo|date=May 13, 1997}}

By the end of 2000–2001, the attention on FHC's government had moved from corruption accusations to the energy crisis ("{{ILL|Crise do Apagão|pt}}"), after a wave of blackouts started in 1999. The 1999 blackout was blamed on a lightning strike, although researchers at the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) demonstrated the official version did not not hold. FHC tried to avoid a similar crisis in 2001 by imposing energy rationing.

{{main|Mensalão scandal}}

While Lula was in office, reports surfaced of payments made to deputies in return for a pledge to support the government with their votes in Congress. According to investigators, more than a dozen construction companies bribed or gave kickbacks to corrupt Petrobras. Former president of {{ILL|Grupo OAS|pt}} José Adelmario Pinheiro and OAS executive Agenor Medeiros each were sentenced to 16 years incarceration on August 6, 2015. Three other OAS employees received shorter sentences.{{cite news|title=Brazil businessmen sentenced to 16 years over Petrobras scandal|publisher=BBC|access-date=July 26, 2017|date=August 6, 2015|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-33798557}}

The most notorious corruption scandal in the Lula government was the Mensalão scandal, a vote-buying scheme in 2005 involving the Workers' Party (PT), denounced by deputy Roberto Jefferson, who received a reduction of his sentence in exchange for his cooperation.{{cite web|url=http://ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/politica/2012-11-28/por-delatar-mensalao-roberto-jefferson-escapa-de-prisao-em-regime-fechado.html|publisher=iG|work=Último Segundo|date=November 28, 2012|access-date=26 June 2023 |title=Por delatar mensalão, Roberto Jefferson se livra de prisão em regime fechado |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729051624/http://ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/politica/2012-11-28/por-delatar-mensalao-roberto-jefferson-escapa-de-prisao-em-regime-fechado.html |archive-date=29 July 2017}} The scandal later caused the Cassation of Roberto Jefferson.{{cite web |url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/brasil/ult96u72362.shtml|title=Plenário da Câmara aprova cassação de Roberto Jefferson|publisher=Uol|work=Folha de S.Paulo|date=September 14, 2005|access-date=May 10, 2017}} and José Dirceu, who was the Civil House minister in the Lula government and who was considered by the Supremo Tribunal Federal to be one of the commanders of the scheme.{{Cite web|title=Por 293 votos a 192, Dirceu tem mandato cassado pela Câmara e perde direitos políticos por 10 anos – 01/12/2005 – UOL Últimas Notícias – Crise Política|url=https://noticias.uol.com.br/ultnot/crise/ultimas/2005/12/01/ult3160u181.jhtm|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=noticias.uol.com.br}} The PT bought votes from congressmen at the Congress, giving them an allowance, in exchange for support to pass reforms that the party wanted to pass. It was discovered, for example, that in 2003, the pension reform proposed by Lula passed Congress due to votes that were bought.{{Cite web|title=Reforma da Previdência: o que Lula ensinou em 2003 (e o que o Brasil aprendeu em 2005)|url=http://veja.abril.com.br/blog/reveja/reforma-da-previdencia-o-que-lula-ensinou-em-2003-e-o-que-o-brasil-aprendeu-em-2005/|url-status=live|access-date=May 10, 2017|website=Revista Veja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915184552/http://veja.abril.com.br/blog/reveja/reforma-da-previdencia-o-que-lula-ensinou-em-2003-e-o-que-o-brasil-aprendeu-em-2005/ |archive-date=September 15, 2016 }}

Before the monthly allowance, in 2004, the Lula government faced political crises in what was called Bingos scandal. In it {{ILL|Waldomiro Diniz|pt}}, José Dirceu's advisor, appears in the dissemination of a tape recorded by the businessman and bookie Carlos Augusto Ramos, Carlinhos Cachoeira, extorting the "bicheiro" to raise funds for the electoral campaign of the PT and PSB in Rio de Janeiro. In exchange, Waldomiro promised to help Augusto Ramos in a public competition. The Ministério Público Federal filed the complaint filed by the Federal Court for criminal conduct in negotiations for the renewal of the contract between the Caixa Econômica Federal in 2003. It was initially demanded by a "consultancy" 15 million reais, which was closed at 6  million reais.{{Cite web|date=January 19, 2011|title=Valdomiro Diniz e mais sete viram réus por extorsão e corrupção no caso GTech|url=http://www.prdf.mpf.gov.br/imprensa/22-01-2011-valdomiro-diniz-e-mais-sete-viram-reus-por-extorsao-e-corrupcao-no-caso-gtech|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119011511/http://www.prdf.mpf.gov.br/imprensa/22-01-2011-valdomiro-diniz-e-mais-sete-viram-reus-por-extorsao-e-corrupcao-no-caso-gtech|access-date=May 10, 2017|archive-date=January 19, 2012|website=Ministério Público Federal}}{{Cite web|title=Carlinhos Cachoeira: "Sou o Garganta Profunda do PT" {{!}} Reinaldo Azevedo|url=https://veja.abril.com.br/coluna/reinaldo/carlinhos-cachoeira-8220-sou-o-garganta-profunda-do-pt-8221/|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=VEJA|language=pt-BR}}

In 2006, the Dossier scandal also known as "Scandal of the Fools" came to light, as it became known, the repercussion of the arrest, on September 15, 2006, of some members of the Workers' Party (PT) accused of buying a fake dossier, by Luiz Antônio Trevisan Vedoin, with funds of unknown origin. The dossier would accuse PSDB candidate of the state government of São Paulo, José Serra, of having a relationship with the leeches scandal. The alleged plan would be to harm Serra in the dispute with the government of São Paulo, in which his main adversary in the dispute was the senator Aloizio Mercadante. Supposedly, not only was Serra a target, there were also accusations against the presidential candidate Geraldo Alckmin. The suspects' investigations and testimonies showed that the dossier's contents against PSDB politicians were false. The expression "aloprados" was used by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to designate those accused of buying the dossier.{{Cite web|title=Relembre o escândalo dos 'aloprados' – Política|url=https://politica.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,relembre-o-escandalo-dos-aloprados,737712|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Estadão|language=pt-BR}}

In 2016, former president Lula (PT) became a defendant for passive corruption and money laundering, culminating in his conviction and imprisonment for 12 years and 1 month in April 2018.{{Cite web|title=Lula tem até amanha para se apresentar na pf decide moro|url=https://exame.abril.com.br/brasil/lula-tem-ate-amanha-para-se-apresentar-na-pf-decide-moro/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406004201/https://exame.abril.com.br/brasil/lula-tem-ate-amanha-para-se-apresentar-na-pf-decide-moro/ |archive-date=April 6, 2018 }}

{{main|Operation Car Wash}}

File:Eduardo Cunha recebe uma "chuva de dólares".jpg, at the time president of the Chamber of Deputies, receiving a "shower" of fake dollars with his face in it in a form of protest against corruption]]

Operation Lava Jato, was an operation that was started in March 17, 2014, during the Dilma Rousseff government, by the Federal Police, Curitiba branch, ordered by Judge Sergio Moro. Initially a money laundering investigation, it later expanded to cover allegations of corruption at the state-owned oil company Petrobras, whose executives took kickbacks for awarding contracts to construction firms at inflated prices, and in other state-owned companies, The operation issued more than a hundred search warrants, and ordered temporary and preventive detention and coercive measures in its investigation of a money laundering scheme suspected of moving more than {{R$|38.1 billion|link=yes}}" (approximately {{USD|11.3bn|link=yes}}) as of November 22, 2016. Because of the unusual nature of its actions, defendants' lawyers accuse the operation of "selectivity" and "partiality", and of being "a criminal case that violated minimum rules of defense for a large number of defendants".{{Cite web|last=Martín|first=María|date=March 21, 2019|title=Marcelo Bretas, o juiz Moro carioca|url=https://brasil.elpais.com/brasil/2016/02/23/politica/1456182791_651085.html|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=El País Brasil|language=pt-br}} to favor large contractors who practiced cartel, who in turn made payments bribes to politicians who defended the interests of these construction companies involved in the scheme. It was considered by the Federal Police the largest corruption scheme in the history of the country.{{Cite web|title=Lava Jato bate recorde de bloqueio em contas na Suíça – Política|url=https://politica.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,lava-jato-bate-recorde-de-bloqueio-em-contas-na-suica,10000022347|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Estadão|language=pt-BR}} The payment of bribes exceeds ten billion reals, and is considered by the US Department of Justice to be the largest case of international bribery.{{Cite web|title=Para EUA, Odebrecht praticou 'maior caso de suborno da história'|url=https://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/para-eua-odebrecht-praticou-maior-caso-de-suborno-da-historia/|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=VEJA|language=pt-BR}} During the operation, more than a thousand court orders were authorized{{Cite web|title=Operação Lava Jato – Números|url=http://www.pf.gov.br/imprensa/lava-jato/numeros-da-operacao-lava-jato|url-status=live|access-date=May 10, 2017|website=Polícia Federal do Brasil|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707045915/http://www.pf.gov.br:80/imprensa/lava-jato/numeros-da-operacao-lava-jato |archive-date=July 7, 2016 }} over 100 people were arrested{{Cite web|last1=Justi|first1=Adriana|last2=Fern|first2=Bibiana Dionísio e|last3=PR|first3=o CastroDo G1|date=March 17, 2016|title=Dois anos após primeira fase, Lava Jato soma penas de quase mil anos|url=http://g1.globo.com/pr/parana/noticia/2016/03/dois-anos-apos-primeira-fase-lava-jato-soma-penas-de-quase-mil-anos.html|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Paraná|language=pt-br}} and politicians such as André Vargas and Eduardo Cunha were impeached in the Chamber of Deputies, and later arrested.{{Cite web|last1=Fern|last2=G1|first2=a CalgaroDo|last3=Brasília|first3=em|date=December 10, 2014|title=Câmara cassa o mandato do deputado federal André Vargas|url=http://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2014/12/camara-cassa-o-mandato-do-deputado-federal-andre-vargas.html|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Política|language=pt-br}}{{Cite web|date=September 13, 2016|title=Seis destaques da esmagadora cassação de Cunha|url=https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/brasil-37346711|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=BBC News Brasil|language=pt-BR}} The operation was launched during the Dilma government, but the crimes began in 2004, during the Lula government, and lasted until 2015, during the Dilma government. The main parties involved are PP, PT and PMDB,{{Cite web|title=Paulo Roberto Costa afirma que PT recebia propina de áreas para onde indicava diretores na Petrobras|url=https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/paulo-roberto-costa-afirma-que-pt-recebia-propina-de-areas-para-onde-indicava-diretores-na-petrobras-15319791||access-date=May 10, 2017|website=O Globo}}{{Cite web|last=Audi|first=Kelli Kadanus, Katna Baran e Amanda|title=Costa diz que PT, PMDB e PP recebiam dinheiro de esquema na Petrobras|url=https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/vida-publica/costa-diz-que-pt-pmdb-e-pp-recebiam-dinheiro-de-esquema-na-petrobras-eeozad4cpk6i7v4pame2j3aku/|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Gazeta do Povo|language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web|title="2% iam para o PT", diz ex-diretor da Petrobras sobre desvio|url=https://www.terra.com.br/noticias/brasil/politica/2-iam-para-o-pt-diz-ex-diretor-da-petrobras-sobre-desvio,5a4c6fa0916f8410VgnVCM4000009bcceb0aRCRD.html|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Terra|language=pt-BR}} however, it involves other politicians from different parties.{{Cite web|title=Janot acusa Collor por 30 crimes de corrupção|url=https://politica.estadao.com.br/blogs/fausto-macedo/janot-acusa-collor-por-30-crimes-de-corrupcao/|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Fausto Macedo|language=pt-br}}{{Cite web|last=Conteúdo|first=Estadão|title=Lava Jato: Aécio e Romero Jucá acumulam maior número de pedidos de investigação|url=https://epocanegocios.globo.com/Brasil/noticia/2017/04/lava-jato-aecio-e-romero-juca-acumulam-maior-numero-de-pedidos-de-investigacao.html|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Época Negócios|language=pt-br}}

The Federal Police considers Operation Lava Jato the largest corruption investigation in the country's history,{{Cite web|date=March 17, 2016|title=Saiba por que a Lava Jato é considerada a maior investigação da história do Brasil|url=https://memoria.ebc.com.br/noticias/politica/2016/03/saiba-porque-lava-jato-e-considerada-maior-investigacao-sobre-corrupcao-da|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=EBC|language=pt-br}} {and the United States Department of Justice considers the Odebrecht Group corruption scheme, investigated by Lava Jato, as the largest kickback payment in world history. Lava Jato revealed a table of systemic corruption in Brazil, showing that corruption has become part of the system itself.{{Cite web|title=A corrupção sistêmica no Brasil|url=https://domtotal.com/noticia/1125239/2017/03/a-corrupcao-sistemica-no-brasil/|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=domtotal.com}} In 2015, an opinion poll carried out by the Datafolha Institute indicated that corruption is the biggest problem in Brazil.{{Cite web|title=Pela 1ª vez, corrupção é vista como maior problema do país, diz Datafolha – 29/11/2015 – Poder|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2015/11/1712475-pela-1-vez-corrupcao-e-vista-como-maior-problema-do-pais.shtml|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=Folha de S.Paulo}} In June 2017, the Director for Combating Organized Crime (DICOR/PF) totaled that, as of 2013, losses from various diversions reached close to 123 billion reais.{{Cite web|title=Organizações criminosas deixam rombo de R$ 123 bi – Política|url=https://politica.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,organizacoes-criminosas-deixam-rombo-de-r-123-bi,70001846542|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=Estadão|language=pt-BR}}

In 2014, Throughout the investigation, members of the Dilma government and the former president herself were investigated for the purchase of the Refinery Pasadena Refinery System Inc, which resulted in a loss of US$790 million to Petrobras.{{Cite web|last1=PR|first1=Do G1|last2=Nacional|first2=com informações do Jornal|date=October 16, 2015|title=Delator diz que Delcídio recebeu propina por refinaria de Pasadena|url=http://g1.globo.com/pr/parana/noticia/2015/10/delator-diz-que-delcidio-recebeu-propina-por-refinaria-de-pasadena.html|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Paraná|language=pt-br}} In December 2014, the Controller General of the Union (CGU), through the minister Jorge Hage, appointed 22 responsible for the business, among them, José Sérgio Gabrielli and the former directors Nestor Cerveró, Paulo Roberto Costa, Renato Duque and Jorge Zelada, and exempted the president Dilma Rousseff, who chaired the board of directors of Petrobras, and Graça Foster, from any responsibility.{{Cite web|date=December 17, 2014|title=CGU revela prejuízo de US$ 659,4 milhões na compra de Pasadena|url=http://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/cgu-revela-prejuizo-de-us-6594-milhoes-na-compra-de-pasadena-14859348|url-status=live|access-date=May 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217195907/http://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/cgu-revela-prejuizo-de-us-6594-milhoes-na-compra-de-pasadena-14859348 |archive-date=December 17, 2014 }} In 2016, after the Supreme Court released the testimonies of Nestor Cerveró's State's evidence, it was found that, by the testimony of the whistleblower, the removed president, Dilma Rousseff, was aware of the payments of bribes to PT politicians, in the purchase of the refinery.{{Cite web|last1=G1|first1=Do|last2=JN|first2=com informações do|date=June 2, 2016|title=Dilma sabia tudo sobre Pasadena, afirma Cerveró em delação premiada|url=http://g1.globo.com/politica/operacao-lava-jato/noticia/2016/06/dilma-sabia-tudo-sobre-pasadena-afirma-cervero-em-delacao-premiada.html|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Operação lava jato|language=pt-br}}

Dilma, who chaired the board of Petrobras from 2003 to 2010, denied knowledge of any wrongdoing{{cite news|last1=Costas|first1=Ruth|title=Petrobras scandal: Brazil's energy giant under pressure|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-30129184|access-date=May 12, 2015|work=BBC|date=November 21, 2014}} The Brazilian Supreme Court authorized the investigation of 48 current and former legislators, including former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in March 2016.

The president of Petrobras, Aldemir Bendine, estimated in 2015 the company's losses from corruption scandals at R$6.2 billion.{{Cite web|date=April 22, 2015|title=Petrobras teve perdas de R$ 6,2 bilhões com corrupção|url=https://epocanegocios.globo.com/Informacao/Resultados/noticia/2015/04/petrobras-teve-perdas-de-r-62-bilhoes-com-corrupcao.html|url-status=live|access-date=October 14, 2020|website=Época Negócios|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727170254/http://epocanegocios.globo.com/Informacao/Resultados/noticia/2015/04/petrobras-teve-perdas-de-r-62-bilhoes-com-corrupcao.html |archive-date=July 27, 2015 }} The company's shares fell, although they slowly began to recover.{{Cite web|date=June 4, 2018|title=Ações da Petrobras se recuperam e Bolsa fecha em alta|url=https://oglobo.globo.com/economia/acoes-da-petrobras-se-recuperam-bolsa-fecha-em-alta-22743658|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=O Globo|language=pt-BR}}

In 2017, Dilma Rousseff had her assets blocked by the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) for damages to Petrobras, and another five former members of the Board of Directors of the state-owned company were also affected. The decision is subject to appeal.{{Cite web|title=TCU bloqueia bens de Dilma por prejuízo à Petrobras com compra de Pasadena|url=https://g1.globo.com/economia/noticia/ministro-do-tcu-propoe-bloqueio-de-bens-de-dilma-por-prejuizo-a-petrobras.ghtml|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=G1|date=October 11, 2017 |language=pt-br}}

Operation Car Wash has resulted in the arrest of many important political figures, including:

• Treasurer of the Workers' Party, João Vaccari Neto, arrested for receiving "irregular donations."{{cite news|last1=Jelmayer|first1=Rogerio|title=Brazil Police Arrest Workers' Party Treasurer Joao Vaccari Neto|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/brazil-police-arrest-workers-party-treasurer-joao-vaccari-neto-1429100123|access-date=August 27, 2015|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=April 15, 2015}}
• Former Lula chief of staff José Dirceu, arrested for orchestrating a large part of the bribery.{{cite news|last1=MAGALHAES|first1=LUCIANA|title=Brazilian Police Arrest José Dirceu, Ex-Chief of Staff, in Petrobras Probe|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/brazils-federal-police-charge-jose-dirceu-in-petrobras-probe-1438612314|access-date=September 9, 2015|publisher=WSJ|date=July 3, 2015}}
• Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies (lower house of the Congress of Brazil) Eduardo Cunha (PMDB-RJ), investigated for receiving more than US$40 million in kickbacks and bribes.{{cite news|last1=Romero|first1=Simon|title=Expanding Web of Scandal in Brazil Threatens Further Upheaval|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/22/world/americas/expanding-web-of-scandal-in-brazil-threatens-further-upheaval.html|access-date=September 9, 2015|newspaper=New York Times|date=August 21, 2015}}
• Former minister of mines and energy Edison Lobão is being investigated for taking more than US$50 million from Petrobras.
• Former Brazilian President and current Senator Fernando Collor de Mello of the Christian-conservative Christian Labour Party, charged with corruption.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/former-brazil-president-collor-charged-petrobras-corruption-205108912.html|title=Brazil speaker, former president charged in Petrobras corruption|access-date=December 22, 2016}}

The corruption scandals investigated by Operation Lava Jato continued to be investigated after the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff. In just a few days of existence, the Michel Temer government faced its first case of scandal and the first departure of a minister, after the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo released recordings of the minister of planning, Romero Jucá, in a telephone conversation in March 2016 with the former president of Transpetro, Sérgio Machado. In the conversation, when he was still a senator for the PMDB, Jucá suggested that a change in Dilma Rousseff's government could paralyze the operation, which was investigating both parties.{{Cite web|title=Em diálogos gravados, Jucá fala em pacto para deter avanço da Lava Jato – 23/05/2016 – Poder|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2016/05/1774018-em-dialogos-gravados-juca-fala-em-pacto-para-deter-avanco-da-lava-jato.shtml|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Folha de S.Paulo}}

On May 17, the owners of the slaughterhouse JBS said, in denunciation, that they recorded the president Michel Temer authorizing the purchase of the silenced deputy and former president of the Chamber of Deputies, Eduardo Cunha, when he was already arrested by Lava Jato. The businessman Joesley Batista, owner of JBS, reportedly delivered a recording made in March 2017 in which Temer nominates the deputy Rodrigo Rocha Loures to resolve J&F matters, a holding which controls the JBS slaughterhouse. Later, Rocha Lourdes was filmed receiving a suitcase with five hundred thousand reais, sent by Joesley. In another recording, also from March, the businessman reportedly told Temer that he was paying an "allowance" to Cunha and the operator Lúcio Funaro, so that they would remain silent in prison.{{Cite web|title=Dono da JBS gravou Temer dando aval para comprar silêncio de Cunha, diz jornal|url=https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/dono-da-jbs-gravou-temer-dando-autorizacao-para-comprar-silencio-de-cunha-diz-jornal.ghtml|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=G1|date=May 17, 2017 |language=pt-br}} This scandal generated several popular protests and caused people to ask whether Temer could continue in the role of president.

Another notable case is the fact that almost every member of Bolsonaro's family is being investigated by the police, except for Bolsonaro himself and his youngest children, Renan Bolsonaro and Laura Bolsonaro.{{Cite web|date=September 17, 2021|title=Negócios de família|url=https://istoe.com.br/negocios-de-familia/|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=ISTOÉ Independente|language=pt-BR}} The corruption cases involving them are:

• Eduardo Bolsonaro: Eduardo Bolsonaro was investigated for having been a "phantom employee" during 2003 and 2004. He had been appointed to a commissioned position in the PTB leadership in Brasília, while attending courses in Rio de Janeiro, 1,333 km away.{{Cite news|title=Faculdade no Rio, emprego em Brasília: o cargo na Câmara que Eduardo Bolsonaro ganhou aos 18 anos e não lembra|language=pt-BR|work=BBC News Brasil|url=https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/brasil-49878131|access-date=December 9, 2021}} He earned the equivalent of 9,800 R$ (Approximately $1,700) per month.{{Cite web|date=October 3, 2019|title=Como o irmão, Eduardo Bolsonaro também foi funcionário da Câmara dos Deputados sem dar expediente|url=https://www.redebrasilatual.com.br/politica/2019/10/eduardo-bolsonaro-funcionario-fantasma-da-camara-dos-deputados/|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=Rede Brasil Atual|language=pt-BR}}
• Flávio Bolsonaro and the Queiroz case: Flávio Bolsonaro was involved in a corruption scandal and political crisis called the "Queiroz case".{{Cite web|title=Caso Fabrício Queiroz: o que é, cronologia dos fatos, envolvidos|url=https://g1.globo.com/rj/rio-de-janeiro/noticia/2019/01/18/caso-fabricio-queiroz-o-que-e-cronologia-dos-fatos-personagens.ghtml|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=G1|date=January 18, 2019 |language=pt-br}} The case began on June 12, 2018, when COAF released a report pointing out movements in the amount of R$1,236,838 ($223,522) in 2016 and 2017 in Fabricio Queiroz's bank account, at the time he held the function of driver and family safety.{{Cite web|last=Povo|first=Gazeta do|title=O que é o caso Queiroz, relembrado por suplente de Flavio Bolsonaro|url=https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/republica/caso-queiroz-relembre-flavio-bolsonaro/|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=Gazeta do Povo|language=pt-BR}} As the case unfolded, he exposed the arrest of Fabricio Queiroz, in which he had been found in the home of Frederick Wassef, a family member.{{Cite web|title=Quem é Frederick Wassef, ex-advogado da família Bolsonaro|url=https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2020/06/18/quem-e-o-advogado-frederick-wassef.ghtml|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=G1|date=June 18, 2020 |language=pt-br}}{{Cite web|last1=Minas|first1=Estado de|date=June 18, 2020|title=Saiba quem é Fred Wassef, advogado de Flávio Bolsonaro e dono do imóvel onde Queiroz foi achado|url=https://www.em.com.br/app/noticia/politica/2020/06/18/interna_politica,1157772/saiba-quem-e-frederick-wassef-advogado-de-flavio-bolsonaro.shtml|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=Estado de Minas|language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web|title=Fabrício Queiroz, ex-assessor de Flávio Bolsonaro, é preso em Atibaia, SP|url=https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2020/06/18/fabricio-de-queiroz-e-preso.ghtml|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=G1|date=June 18, 2020 |language=pt-br}} The suspicion was that Flávio Bolsonaro made a scam where employees return part of their salary to him, in which, supposedly, Queiroz was the one who operated the system. In 2021, the STJ (Superior Court of Justice) annulled all the decisions of the lower court judge and the STF (Supreme Court) annulled the COAF reports, emptying the entire investigation.{{Cite web|title=STF anula relatórios do Coaf e esvazia apuração sobre Flávio Bolsonaro {{!}} Maquiavel|url=https://veja.abril.com.br/blog/maquiavel/stf-anula-relatorios-do-coaf-e-esvazia-apuracao-sobre-flavio-bolsonaro/|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=VEJA|language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web|title=STJ anula todas as decisões de juiz sobre Flávio Bolsonaro no caso das rachadinhas|url=https://g1.globo.com/jornal-nacional/noticia/2021/11/09/stj-anula-todas-as-decisoes-de-juiz-sobre-flavio-bolsonaro-no-caso-das-rachadinhas.ghtml|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=G1|date=November 10, 2021 |language=pt-br}}
• Michelle Bolsonaro: Bolsonaro's wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, was allegedly involved in the Queiroz case, in which in 2020, Crusoé magazine reported that it heard a breach of confidentiality in Fabricio Queiroz's bank account, authorized by the court, in which revealed that Queiroz and his wife had deposited around 21 checks (which together amount to 89 thousand reais, approximately 16 thousand US Dollars), in Michelle's account between 2011 and 2016.{{Cite web|title=Fabrício Queiroz e a esposa repassaram R$ 89 mil para Michelle Bolsonaro|url=https://g1.globo.com/rj/rio-de-janeiro/noticia/2020/08/07/fabricio-queiroz-e-a-esposa-repassaram-r-89-mil-para-michelle-bolsonaro.ghtml|access-date=December 10, 2021|website=G1|date=August 7, 2020 |language=pt-br}}{{Cite web|date=July 6, 2021|title=Por que Fabrício Queiroz depositou dinheiro na conta de Michelle?|url=https://www.metropoles.com/blog-do-noblat/ricardo-noblat/por-que-fabricio-queiroz-depositou-dinheiro-na-conta-de-michelle|access-date=December 10, 2021|website=Metrópoles|language=pt-BR}}

A notable case of corruption scandal in Bolsonaro's administration is that some ministers chosen at the beginning of the government were targets of investigation, namely: Luiz Henrique Mandetta, Tereza Cristina, Onyx Lorenzoni, Paulo Guedes and Marcos Pontes.{{Cite web|last=Povo|first=O.|date=November 22, 2018|title=Cinco ministros já anunciados por Bolsonaro são ou foram alvo de investigação|url=https://www.opovo.com.br/noticias/politica/2018/11/cinco-ministros-de-bolsonaro-sao-ou-foram-alvo-de-investigacao.html|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=O POVO|language=pt-br}}

In the first year of his presidency, the Decree n. 9,690/2019 signed in January caused the discussion and concern of the bodies that monitor Brazilian corruption,{{Cite web|last=Brasil|first=Autor Transparência|date=January 24, 2019|title=Nota sobre o Decreto n. 9.690/2019 que altera regras de classificação de informação|url=https://blog.transparencia.org.br/nota-sobre-o-decreto-n-9-6902019-que-altera-regras-de-classificacao-de-informacao/|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Blog da Transparência Brasil|language=pt-BR}} the decree signed by the acting president, Hamilton Mourão and the Minister of the Civil House, Onyx Lorenzoni, would authorize commissioned servants to decree top secret confidentiality of public data; Until then, this power was restricted to the President of the Republic, his deputy, ministers of state, commanders of the Armed Forces and heads of diplomatic missions abroad;{{Cite web|date=January 24, 2019|title=Governo autoriza comissionados a determinar sigilo de informações públicas por até 25 anos. Veja o decreto|url=https://www.congressoemfoco.com.br/noticia/26341/mourao-da-poder-a-comissionados-para-decretar-sigilo-de-informacoes-publicas-por-ate-25-anos-veja-o-decreto/|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Congresso em Foco|language=pt-BR}} the following month, in a symbolic vote, the deputies overthrew the decree that went to the Senate for a new deliberation,{{Cite web|date=February 19, 2019|title=Deputados derrubam decreto sobre transparência e impõem primeira derrota a Bolsonaro na Câmara|url=https://www.congressoemfoco.com.br/noticia/32713/deputados-derrubam-decreto-sobre-transparencia-e-impoem-primeira-derrota-a-bolsonaro-na-camara/|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Congresso em Foco|language=pt-BR}} and then archived.{{Cite web|title=Com revogação de decreto, senadores arquivam projeto sobre sigilo de informações|url=https://www12.senado.leg.br/noticias/materias/2019/02/27/com-revogacao-de-decreto-senadores-arquivam-o-texto-que-anularia-mudanca-na-lei-de-acesso-a-informacao|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=Senado Federal|language=pt-br}} In the Chamber and in the Senate, bills were presented proposing the annulment of the decree due to unconstitutionality. the PDL 3/2019, approved by the Chamber, received an urgent request with 367 votes in favor and 57 against, and forwarded to the Senate, the House was already voting on two similar proposals, PDL 22/2019 and PDL 27/2019.

To counteract widespread corruption in the private and public sector, Brazil enacted the Clean Company Act 2014 (Law No. 12, 846), which held companies responsible for the corrupt practices of their employees and liable without a finding of fault. Bid rigging and fraud are prohibited in public procurement, as well as bribery of Brazilian public officials.{{cite web|title=Fighting bid rigging in Brazil: A review of federal public procurement|url=https://www.oecd.org/competition/fighting-bid-rigging-in-brazil-a-review-of-federal-public-procurement.htm|publisher=Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development}} If found guilty of corruption the companies can be suspended, dissolved or fined.

An article by Global Compliance News stresses the difference between individuals and legal entities in Brazilian anti-corruption Law. Firstly, only individuals can be criminally punished if found guilty of bribery. Legal entities (i.e. companies and organizations) are punished with judicial and administrative sanctions. If found guilty legal entities are subject to losing 0.1% to 20% of their gross revenue along with the removal of all public loans, assets, and government subsidies. Foreign public officials found guilty of corruption are liable to penalties and up to eight years of imprisonment, while at the same time being subject to any punishments placed on legal entities. However, in spite of all this, Brazilian legislation does not put a limit on hospitality expenses to officials; although any amount can be considered corrupt.

Based on data released by the Superior Electoral Court, the Movement to Combat Electoral Corruption released a balance on October 4, 2007, with the parties that include the largest number of parliamentarians quashed by electoral corruption since 2000. The Brazilian Social Democracy Party appeared in third place on the list with 58 cases, behind only the Democrats and the Brazilian Democratic Movement.{{cite web|title=Desde 2000, 623 políticos foram cassados. DEM lidera ranking|work=O Globo|url=http://oglobo.globo.com/pais/mat/2007/10/04/298003467.asp|access-date=October 19, 2014}}

According to analysis released on September 8, 2012, of 317 Brazilian politicians who were barred from running in elections by the Clean Record Act the Brazilian Social Democracy Party has the largest number of barred candidates with 56 party members.{{cite web|author=Talita Abrantes|title=PSDB tem o maior número de barrados pelo Ficha Limpa|work=Exame|date=September 8, 2012 |url=http://exame.abril.com.br/brasil/noticias/psdb-tem-o-maior-numero-de-barrados-pelo-ficha-limpa|access-date=October 21, 2014}}

Anti-corruption sentiment in Brazil is a common subject in politics, media, art and activism. During the democratic period in the country, the press could report corruption cases{{Cite web | url=https://guiadoestudante.abril.com.br/blog/atualidades-vestibular/a-corrupcao-durante-o-regime-militar/ | title=A corrupção durante o regime militar | Atualidades no Vestibular}} and the opposition against the corruption was adopted by virtually all Brazilians. A study found that corruption was seen as the country's biggest problem.{{Cite web | url=https://garciandressa.jusbrasil.com.br/noticias/261702583/corrupcao-e-vista-como-o-maior-problema-do-pais-diz-datafolha |title = Corrupção é vista como o maior problema do País, diz Datafolha}}

{{Main Article|Janismo}}

During the Fourth Brazilian Republic, Adhemar de Barros was appointed by President Getúlio Vargas as governor of São Paulo. Ademar was accused of unjust enrichment and fired by Vargas, but was elected as governor of São Paulo by direct vote.{{Cite web |last=Carlos Azedo |first=Luiz |date=September 18, 2016 |title=Nas entrelinhas: "Rouba, mas faz!" |url=http://blogs.correiobraziliense.com.br/azedo/nas-entrelinhas-rouba-mas-faz/ |website=Correio Braziliense |language=pt-br}} The motto "He steals, but he also works" ("Rouba, mas faz") was first attributed to Ademar, suggesting that a politician that builds a good government can be elected despite his electoral crimes.

Various politicians opposed Adhemar and the corruption in the country; Jânio Quadros beat Adhemar in gubernatorial elections and was elected president, by accusing Juscelino Kubitschek of taking advantage of the construction of Brasília, to make a government characterized by embezzlement.

Other politicians, like Levy Fidelix,{{cite web|url=https://www.oantagonista.com/brasil/levy-fidelix-troca-aerotrem-por-corrupcao/|title=Levy Fidelix troca aerotrem por corrupção|website=O Antagonista|date=February 14, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2019}} inspired by Jânio, also made anti-corruption speeches in their electoral campaign. The theme was platformed in various electoral debates.{{Cite web |date=2014-10-15 |title=Acusações de corrupção, nepotismo e mentiras acirram debate do 2º turno – 15/10/2014 – Poder |url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2014/10/1532686-acusacoes-de-corrupcao-e-nepotismo-acirram-primeiro-debate-do-2-turno.shtml |website=Folha de São Paulo |language=pt-br}}

{{Main Article|1964 Brazilian coup d'état}}

Positivism was a philosophy present in the military environment.{{Cite web |last=Paim |first=Antonio |date=2017-12-11 |title=Benjamin Constant e o ideário positivista no meio militar |url=https://espacodemocratico.org.br/personagens/benjamin-constant-e-o-ideario-positivista-no-meio-militar/ |website=Espaço Democrático |language=pt-br}} Various prominent figures declared that the military coup in 1964, was to combat the corruption in the country.{{Cite web | url=http://memorialdademocracia.com.br/card/cassado-jk-segue-para-o-exilio |title = Memorial da Democracia – Cassado, Juscelino parte para o exílio}}{{Cite web |last=Cesar de Araújo |first=Paulo |date=January 23, 2018 |title=Nos anos 1960, um ex-presidente era investigado por causa de apartamento |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2018/01/1952824-nos-anos-1960-um-ex-presidente-era-investigado-por-causa-de-apartamento.shtml |url-access=subscription |website=Folha de São Paulo |language=pt-br}} According to the military rulers, all civil politicians were selfish and corrupted; only the military could save the country. Even Jânio Quadros was a target of the regime's politics of persecution.

After the return of democracy, political immunity was given to congressman to avoid unfair persecution, like those of the dictatorship. This controversial law is the subject of debate, because possibly corrupt politicians, when charged, can seek the protection by only being tried by the Supreme Court{{Cite web |last=de Abreu Dallari |first=Dalmo |date=2018-08-31 |title=A limitada imunidade parlamentar |url=https://www.jota.info/opiniao-e-analise/colunas/diretos-humanos-e-constituicao/a-limitada-imunidade-parlamentar-31082018 |url-access=limited |website=Jota |language=pt-br}}

Jair Bolsonaro, a former military officer and president of republic, made controversial speeches against the establishment and parliamentarian forces.{{Cite web |date=2018-06-18 |title=Já falei de fechar o Congresso, mas há vinte anos, diz Bolsonaro |url=https://exame.com/brasil/ja-falei-de-fechar-o-congresso-mas-ha-vinte-anos-diz-bolsonaro/ |website=Exame |language=pt-br}}

{{Main Article|2015–2016 protests in Brazil}}

During the 2010s, several movements were created to combat political corruption, like the Free Brazil Movement.

Movements like "Fora Collor" (Get-out, Collor),{{Cite web |last=Gasparetto Junior |first=Antonio |title=Fora Collor – Impeachment do presidente Fernando Collor |url=https://www.infoescola.com/historia-do-brasil/fora-collor/ |website=InfoEscola |language=pt-br}} "Fora Dilma" (Get-out, Dilma), "Fora Temer" (Get-out, Temer) and "Fora Bolsonaro" (Get-out, Bolsonaro) were supported by popular masses.

Military guerrillas stole money from Adhemar de Barros' safe box during military dictatorship.{{Cite web |last=I.S. Azambuja |first=Carlos |date=2016-02-11 |title=Puggina.org |url=https://www.puggina.org/outros-autores-artigo/a-acao-grande-ou-o-roubo-do-cofre-do-adhemar__7678 |language=pt-br}}

The three branches of power in Brazil were associated with corruption or with the protection of corrupt politicians. During the impeachment process of Fernando Collor de Mello, supporters of parliamentary system said that parliament needed powers to more easily change the chief of government. Brazilian populists claimed that the legislative branch was made up of the corrupt.{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2019 |title=O governo joga a sociedade contra o Parlamento |url=https://www.oantagonista.com/brasil/o-governo-joga-a-sociedade-contra-o-parlamento/ |website=O Antagonista |language=pt-br}} The supreme court was accused of being the greatest supporter of political corruption.{{Cite web |last=Flávio Gomes |first=Luiz |date=2016-05-30 |title=STF evoluiu, mas ainda é grande "aliado" da corrupção política | Jusbrasil |url=https://professorlfg.jusbrasil.com.br/artigos/342779691/stf-evoluiu-mas-ainda-e-grande-aliado-da-corrupcao-politica |website=Jusbrasil |language=pt-br}} Brazilian monarchists claimed that the spread of corruption, was a consequence of the republican system of government.{{Cite web |title=Abr. 2018 – BREVES REFLEXÕES SOBRE a MONARQUIA CONSTITUCIONAL PARLAMENTAR (2ª Parte) |url=http://www.ubirataniorio.org/index.php/artigo-do-mes/331-mon2 |website=ubirataniorio.org |language=pt-br}}

Right-wing politicians accuse left-wing politicians of being corrupt. This stereotype was created during the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva when the mensalão scandal was discovered.{{Cite web |last1=Venceslau |first1=Pedro |last2=Tomazelli |first2=Idiana |date=2018-04-10 |title=Corrupção não é de direita ou de esquerda |url=https://politica.estadao.com.br/blogs/fausto-macedo/corrupcao-nao-e-de-direita-ou-de-esquerda/ |website=Estadão |language=pt-br}} In the second term of Dilma Rousseff's presidency in 2016, citizens and right wing politicians began the movement to impeach Rousseff due to the failing economy. This was caused by how much money she took out of public banks for her federal campaign to become elected.{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/06/revisiting-brazils-fall-from-democracy-to-far-right-rule.html|title=Revisiting Brazil's Dizzying Fall into Far Right Rule|last=Bevins|first=Vicent|date=June 26, 2019|website=New York Magazine}} Once Rousseff was impeached, Michel Temer took over and completed her term in 2018. During his term, Temer slowly introduced right-wing ideas to the public. After the end of Temer's term in 2018, Jair Bolsonaro was elected president and became the first right-wing president since 2001. He built up his political campaign through YouTube at first, slowly influencing citizens with far right ideas over time before running for office.{{Cite web |last1=Fisher |first1=Max |last2=Taub |first2=Amanda |date=April 11, 2019 |title=How Youtube Radicalized Brazil |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/11/world/americas/youtube-brazil.html |website=The New York Times}} Bolsonaro claimed in his political campaign that the Worker's Party was the most corrupt political party in the world. The idea that left-wing activists protect criminals like thieves, rapists and murderers,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilisp.org/opiniao/por-que-esquerda-ama-os-bandidos/|title = Por que a esquerda ama os bandidos|date = February 6, 2018}} encouraged right-wing politicians to believe that the corrupt were also protected by leftists.

{{Portal|Brazil}}

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