Brazilian deputy's wealth surges from R$7.7k to R$600k in four years amid fund probe

The declared net worth of federal deputy Sóstenes Cavalcante, who leads the Liberal Party (PL) in Brazil's Chamber of Deputies, has seen a substantial increase, growing from R$7.7 thousand in 2022 to R$600 thousand this year. Cavalcante attributes this growth to his income, stating his annual salary is around R$600 thousand, which he argues makes his declared assets entirely compatible.

In his latest declaration to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Cavalcante reported R$500 thousand in cash and a plot of land valued at R$100 thousand. This declaration comes after a Federal Police operation late last year, during which a significant amount of cash was seized from Cavalcante. The police were investigating an alleged scheme involving the misuse of parliamentary expense funds.

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My annual salary is approximately R$600 thousand. In four years, this represents about R$2.4 million in income. Therefore, a declared net worth of approximately R$600 thousand is absolutely compatible with my income.

Cavalcante has asserted that the R$500 thousand in cash represents proceeds from the sale of a property, a transaction he claims was properly registered through a public deed. He also stated that there is nothing improper regarding a car rental company used by his office that utilizes parliamentary funds. However, public records from late 2025 indicate that Cavalcante declared the property he sold in his 2024 income tax return at a value of R$310 thousand, a figure considerably lower than the R$500 thousand he now claims as sale proceeds.

The plot of land valued at R$100 thousand is located in the Jardim Botânico neighborhood of Brasília. The discrepancy between the declared sale price of the house and its previous tax declaration, coupled with the Federal Police's seizure of cash related to parliamentary funds, raises questions about the source and management of Cavalcante's finances.

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cash amounts, corresponding to the agreed price for the sale of a house, resulting from a commercial transaction registered in a public deed.