Federal Police Launch 9th Phase of Overclean Operation Targeting Pa...

The Federal Police have launched the 9th phase of Operation Overclean, intensifying investigations into alleged irregularities surrounding parliamentary amendments. This latest development marks a significant escalation in a probe that began in December 2024.

At the heart of the investigation are suspicions of fraud in public tenders, embezzlement of public funds, corruption, and money laundering. The operation comes at a critical moment when parliamentary amendments have become a dominant force in Brazil's budgetary landscape, with over R$60 billion allocated for 2026 alone.

The scope of these funds now surpasses the entire annual budget of many federal ministries, raising urgent questions about oversight and accountability in how taxpayer money is distributed and spent.

The 9th phase of Operation Overclean represents a continuation of a high-profile investigation that has been building for over a year. The operation specifically targets Deputy Félix Mendonça of the PDT party, who is under investigation for alleged involvement in amendment-related diversions.

The investigation focuses on several critical areas of potential misconduct:

• Fraudulent manipulation of public procurement processes
• Diversion of public resources from intended purposes
• Corrupt practices in fund allocation
• Money laundering schemes involving public money

These allegations highlight the complex web of financial transactions that can occur when large sums of public money flow through parliamentary channels with limited transparency.

The numbers behind parliamentary amendments reveal a system that has exploded in size over the past decade. According to available data, these amendments have grown by more than 1,200% in ten years, transforming from a minor budgetary tool into a major financial force.

For the current budget year, the government has reserved more than R$60 billion specifically for parliamentary amendments. This amount is so substantial that it now exceeds the annual operating budgets of entire federal ministries.

The current administration has set its own records in this area. In 2025 alone, the government paid R$31.5 billion in parliamentary amendments—the highest value ever recorded in Brazilian history. Additionally, R$1.26 billion from pending secret budget amendments of previous years were settled in 2025, representing more than 27% of all outstanding amounts from prior periods.

Understanding the mechanics of parliamentary amendments requires expertise in public finance. Rafael Barros Barbosa, professor of Economics at the Federal University of Ceará and researcher at the Brazilian Institute of Economics (FGV-IBRE), has analyzed the critical vulnerabilities in the system.

Barbosa identifies several key areas where oversight is essential:

• Tracking mechanisms for fund flow
• Public agency responsibilities
• Implementation and maintenance of public policies
• Points where diversions most commonly occur

According to Barbosa, the current format of these funds significantly influences how public policies are implemented and maintained across the country. His analysis points to the need for stronger accountability measures and clearer chains of responsibility.

The professor explains that identifying which public agencies hold responsibility for tracking and supervising the path of these amendments is crucial for preventing misuse.

The investigation unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing legislative decisions about amendment distribution. The Congress has approved the Budget Guidelines Law (LDO) with a specific calendar for paying R$13 billion in parliamentary amendments leading up to the 2026 elections.

This timing raises questions about the intersection of political cycles and fund distribution. The scheduled payments occur as:

• Operation Overclean continues its investigation
• Public scrutiny of amendment processes intensifies
• Electoral campaigns begin to take shape

The convergence of these factors creates a complex environment where financial oversight mechanisms face pressure from multiple directions simultaneously.

The 9th phase of Operation Overclean signals that investigations into parliamentary amendment irregularities are far from concluded. As the operation progresses, it will likely continue to expose the mechanisms through which public funds can be diverted from their intended purposes.

Key questions remain unanswered about the effectiveness of current oversight systems and whether structural reforms will emerge from these investigations. The sheer scale of money involved—R$60 billion for 2026 alone—means that even small percentage diversions could represent enormous sums lost to corruption.

What becomes clear from the current operation is that parliamentary amendments have grown into a financial force that demands enhanced transparency and accountability measures. The challenge moving forward will be balancing legitimate legislative needs for constituency projects with robust safeguards against abuse.