Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked voters on Saturday to reelect Senator Jaques Wagner of the Workers’ Party (PT), two days after Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) released documents detailing alleged financial benefits Wagner received from Banco Master’s business group in exchange for political action.
Lula made the appeal at the PT’s state convention in Bahia, where he presented Wagner and former presidential chief of staff Rui Costa as the government-backed candidates for two Senate seats. “I need two votes: for this blond fellow and for this colleague here,” Lula said, referring to Wagner and Costa.
According to Gazeta do Povo, the request may also have violated Brazil’s electoral rules, which prohibit this type of vote solicitation before August 16. The report is based on single-source reporting from the newspaper.
What Investigators Allege
Documents made public by STF Justice André Mendonça describe at least 74 phone calls between Wagner and Augusto Lima, a former Banco Master partner. The calls, made between November 2023 and May 2025, lasted about five and a half hours in total. Federal Police investigators noted that the two preferred voice calls on WhatsApp rather than written messages.
The investigation also cites discussions involving a Salvador apartment valued at R$2.45 million (roughly USD 450,000), a transfer of R$3.5 million (about USD 640,000) to BN Financeira, a company linked to Wagner’s family, R$66,800 (approximately USD 12,000) in Taylor Swift concert tickets and at least five trips on aircraft associated with Lima or Banco Master.
In one conversation, Wagner allegedly offered his Senate office as a discreet and secure location for a meeting with people connected to the bank. Investigators say discussions about the apartment continued after Lima and Banco Master executive Daniel Vorcaro were arrested, including contractual changes that allegedly sought to conceal the transaction.
Political Connections
Federal Police are examining whether the alleged benefits were provided in return for Wagner’s intervention on issues important to Banco Master. These include the expansion of payroll-deducted loans, a proposal to increase deposit insurance coverage from R$250,000 to R$1 million, and negotiations involving the bank’s proposed sale to Banco de Brasília, or BRB.
Wagner was the target of a search operation on June 18 and left his position as Lula’s Senate government leader six days later. He was summoned to testify before the Federal Police in early August.
Lula defended Wagner at the convention, praising his record as a former Bahia governor and describing him as politically mature and competent. He also criticized the current Senate as being at a very low level.
Wagner denies receiving bribes or working to benefit Banco Master. He says the apartment never formed part of his assets and that foreign currency seized at addresses linked to him came from lawful sources. He has not been formally charged.