PT-backed candidate donates R$1 million to his own campaign, leads self-funding in SC

Gelson Merísio, a candidate for governor in Santa Catarina who is allied with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's Workers' Party (PT), has significantly boosted his campaign by donating R$1 million of his own money. This substantial self-funding places him at the forefront of candidates contributing personal wealth to their gubernatorial bids in the state.

Merísio is part of the "Coragem Para Mudar" coalition, which includes the PSB, PDT, PSOL-Rede, and the Federação Brasil da Esperança (a federation comprising PT, PV, and PCdoB). His personal contribution stands out, particularly when juxtaposed with his declared assets to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). According to his electoral declaration, Merísio's total assets amount to R$652,953.78, a figure considerably lower than his R$1 million campaign donation.

Among the assets Merísio reported are a house in São Paulo valued at R$430,000, a R$95,000 stake in Merísio Comércio de Materiais de Construção Ltda., and R$75,500 in capital shares from Sicoob/Credimoc Cooperativa de Crédito. He also listed funds held in bank accounts and financial investments.

The TSE's system has registered the R$1 million transfer as personal funds used for the campaign. While other candidates, such as Governor Jorginho Mello (PL), have also made self-donations, Mello's contribution is R$30,000, a fraction of Merísio's investment. Data on other candidates' financial contributions is still being compiled by the TSE's DivulgaCandContas platform.