Former presidents have benefits guaranteed by the State; expenses totaled R$3.65 million in the first half of the year
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Former presidents of Brazil have not had access to a lifetime salary or pension since the 1988 Constitution.
Reflecting pool at the Planalto Palace, in Brasília — Photo: Ricardo Stuckert/PR
The law, however, guarantees the right to two vehicles and a support team for former office holders, which includes:
- 4 servers for security and personal support;
- 2 drivers;
- 2 advisors in commission positions.
🔎 The benefits correspond to financial assistance from the State to cover per diem, travel, housing assistance, security, and telecommunications services for advisors and staff. In practice, the staff members are linked to the Presidency of the Republic. Resources are also allocated for vehicle maintenance.
In the first half of this year, expenditures on benefits totaled R$3.65 million. Between 2021 and 2024, these expenses exceeded R$31.7 million—in this case, the expenses of now-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for the period 2021 and 2022 were also included.
The law regulating benefits dates back to 1986. Since then, the rules have been improved by decrees, but a specific ceiling for expenses has never been stipulated.
The values, however, must comply with the criteria established by the Fiscal Responsibility Law, which stipulates that total personnel expenditure cannot exceed 50% of the Union's Net Current Revenue (RCL).
In the first half of 2025, R$521,073 was spent on former President Jair Bolsonaro's team of eight employees.
Former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). — Photo: Getty Images via BBC
➡️The amount spent on the team in the first semester includes, among others:
- R$ 310,119.00 – assistant and advisor salaries;
- R$ 134,306.09 – tickets in Brazil;
- R$ 53,772.75 – daily rates in the country;
- R$ 15,008.40 – vehicle maintenance material;
- R$ 4,767.21 – automotive fuels and lubricants.
The Presidency spent R$554,414.56 in the first half of 2025 to maintain the team of eight employees who serve the former president.
Former President Michel Temer (MDB) — Photo: Cesar Itiberê/ PR
➡️The amount spent on the team in the first semester includes, among others:
- R$ 421,231.93 – assistant and advisor salaries;
- R$ 56,219.50 – daily rates abroad;
- R$ 48,273.57 – tickets abroad;
- R$ 6,438.37 – daily rates in the country;
- R$ 9,104.91 – automotive fuels and lubricants.
Former President Dilma Rousseff spent R$862,499.38 in the first half of 2025 to maintain a team of seven employees, one technician less than allowed.
Former President Dilma Rousseff. — Photo: Fátima Meira/Futura Press/Estadão Conteúdo
➡️The amount spent on the team in the first semester includes, among others:
- R$ 408,710.77 – assistant and advisor salaries;
- R$ 130,782.79 – cost of living allowance for civilian personnel;
- R$ 129,208.39 – expenses on missions abroad;
- R$ 83,495.80 – tickets abroad;
- R$ 51,995.71 – compensation for representation abroad;
- R$ 9,603.09 – daily rates abroad;
- R$ 7,277.82 – tickets within the country.
The cost in the first half of 2025 for the team of eight employees who serve the former president was R$368,853.05.
Former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. — Photo: Wilson Dias/Agência Brasil/Archive
➡️The amount spent on the team in the first semester includes, among others:
- R$ 359,781.19 – assistant and advisor salaries;
- R$ 4,169.90 – fuels and lubricants;
- R$ 1,263.96 – general insurance;
- R$ 1,827.00 – vehicle maintenance material;
- R$ 1,143.00 – vehicle maintenance and conservation.
The expenses of seven employees on the former president's team totaled R$931,590.85 in the first half of 2025.
Former President Fernando Collor. — Photo: Andressa Anholete/AFP
➡️The amount spent on the team in the first semester includes, among others:
- R$ 412,404.34 - assistant and advisor salaries;
- R$ 259,5442.51 – tickets in Brazil;
- R$ 198,433.85 – daily rates in the country;
- R$ 20,627.10 – vehicles and fuel.
Spending on the former president's team was R$410,454.73 in the first half of 2025. There are seven employees, one less than allowed.
Former President José Sarney. — Photo: Senate Agency/Disclosure
➡️The amount spent on the team in the first semester includes, among others:
- R$ 361,406.78 – assistant and advisor salaries;
- R$ 22,707.65 – daily rates in the country;
- R$ 16,426.73 – vehicles and fuel;
- R$ 7,981.61 – tickets in Brazil.
Globo