Financiamento de campanhas eleitorais: uma análise da ADI 4650 do STF

Abstract

In the latest chapter in the long history of Brazil's corruption scandals, the Operação Lava-Jato reveals strong evidence of the existence of a cartel formed by the major contractors in Brazil in order to win the bids of the country's major infrastructure projects, especially those held by Petrobras. On the political core of this scheme, there is evidence that a percentage of proceeds contracts - suspected of overbilling - was transferred to the coffers of political parties as official donations to the campaign of the current president of Brazil, at the time a candidate for re-election. This case reignited the debate about the Brazilian model of campaign costing. In this sense, this study aims to look into reform of the Brazilian model of campaign financing. Initially we discuss the main models in the world in the light of comparative law and historical development of this issue in Brazil, as well as what does the current legislation. Finally, we analyze the latest chapter of this discussion: the trial of the Ação Direta de Inconstitucionalidade n. 4650, which sought to declare as unconstitutional the possibility of legal entities of private law carrying out donations to political campaigns. The study leads us to conclude that campaign finance is a controversial and central theme in discussions of political reform and that the different models practiced in the major Western democracies have advantages and disadvantages. The choice of either model should take into account the historical background of the country in question.