TSE Suspends Judgment on PT's Request to Increase 2026 Electoral Fund Allocation

The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) has suspended its judgment on the Workers' Party (PT) request to increase its share of the 2026 electoral fund, temporarily halting the distribution of nearly half of the funds among all parties. The suspension follows a request by Minister Estela Aranha for additional time to analyze the case, after the court president Kassio Nunes Marques voted against the PT's proposal. Marques emphasized that no party will receive funds until the judgment is finalized, noting that the decision affects multiple parties.

The PT initiated the legal action following the loss of federal deputy Paulão's mandate, which altered the calculation of fund distribution based on the number of seats held in the Chamber of Deputies. The party argues that a July 1 calculation wrongly excluded Paulão due to a retotalization of 2022 election votes, despite a prior decision by Dias Toffoli suspending the process that led to the annulment. However, Toffoli later confirmed the changes had been integrated into official electoral systems.

A total of R$ 4.96 billion from the Special Fund for Campaign Financing (FEFC) is available for the 2026 elections, distributed as 48% by Chamber seats, 35% by votes for federal deputies in 2022, 15% by Senate seats, and 2% equally among parties. The PT is currently entitled to R$ 615.3 million, with about R$ 315 million contested in the case. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s candidacy is allocated R$ 126 million from this fund, while the Liberal Party (PL) holds the largest share at R$ 881.6 million.

Minister Aranha has up to 30 days to return the case for further court consideration, with the official election campaign scheduled to begin on October 16. This decision delays the allocation process, impacting strategic preparations for all political parties ahead of the elections.