Senator Jaques Wagner waived compensation for land used in highway project

Senator Jaques Wagner has revealed that he relinquished any claim to compensation for a section of his property that was incorporated into the Via Metropolitana highway. This highway was initiated during his tenure as governor of Bahia.

Wagner, speaking to radio station Andaiá FM, expressed a sense of irony regarding the land, noting it was perhaps the only part of the project that did not involve expropriation payments. He stated that engineers determined the best route for the road, which cut through his property, and he chose not to seek any compensation.

The land in question, acquired by Wagner in 2000 when he was a federal deputy, was sold in 2025 for R$15 million. The initial agreement included an upfront payment of R$2 million, with the remaining R$13 million to be settled through physical exchange in a future development. The 51,000-square-meter plot, equivalent to seven football fields, was bought for R$28,000 and, after 25 years, was sold at a significant appreciation, even after accounting for inflation.

However, the transfer of the property was halted on June 25 by a decision from Supreme Court Minister André Mendonça. This action was part of "Operation Compliance Zero," an investigation into alleged irregularities connected to Banco Master. Mendonça imposed restrictions on Wagner's economic activities, including freezing accounts and assets. Wagner, who governed Bahia from 2007 to 2014, has maintained his composure amidst the investigation, drawing parallels to a past controversy regarding the Fonte Nova stadium during an election year, which he believes was politically motivated.