This document presents a summary of the Brazil 2024 Retrospective, an annual report published by Transparency International – Brazil since 2020. The full report, available in Portuguese, provides an in-depth analysis of the key developments in transparency, governance, and anti-corruption efforts in Brazil over the past year.
Executive Branch: limited commitment to anti-corruption efforts
The report highlights the federal government’s lack of political prioritization in the anti-corruption agenda. While the Comptroller General’s Office (CGU) launched the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Plan 2025-2027, the Executive continued to enable opaque budget mechanisms and maintained high-ranking officials under corruption allegations. Key points include:
- Persistence of the “secret budget” mechanisms, despite Supreme Court rulings declaring them unconstitutional.
- Delays in strengthening transparency in public investment programs, particularly in infrastructure projects.
- Maintaining in office officials facing corruption charges, raising concerns over ethical governance.
Legislative Branch: institutionalizing corruption through budget amendments
Congress played a central role in institutionalizing corruption through budget amendments with limited transparency. The expansion of parliamentary amendments without robust oversight has contributed to:
- The entrenchment of opaque budget mechanisms, increasing the risk of misuse of public funds.
- Political interference in state-owned companies, threatening governance and accountability.
- Deliberate weakening of electoral rules, fostering inequalities in political competition.
Judiciary: setbacks in accountability and enforcement
The Judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, has played a controversial role in high-profile corruption cases. The report highlights:
- Judicial decisions annulling key corruption convictions, undermining years of legal proceedings.
- Conflicts of interest in judicial processes, including cases involving major corporate actors.
- Restrictions on international cooperation in corruption investigations, limiting Brazil’s role in global anti-corruption efforts.
Recommendations for strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms
The Brazil 2024 Retrospective offers a set of recommendations tailored to key institutions, including:
For the Federal Government: Full transparency in budget allocations, enforcement of integrity mechanisms, and accountability in public administration.
For the Congress: Strengthening legislative transparency, regulating lobbying, and ensuring fair electoral processes.
For the Public Prosecutor’s Office: Preserving institutional independence, improving oversight mechanisms, and reinforcing international cooperation.
For the Judiciary: Ensuring compliance with anti-corruption rulings, preventing conflicts of interest, and safeguarding legal security in corruption cases.
