Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes has ruled that the Bolsa Família adjustment made by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva does not break electoral rules, according to Poder360. The decision, reported on Friday, September 18, 2026, clears the benefit increase of any electoral law violation during the election period.
Poder360 reports that Mendes issued the decision validating the adjustment. G1 also covered the ruling, reporting that Mendes stated the Bolsa Família increase carried out by Lula does not violate electoral rules.
The decision comes amid broader scrutiny of government spending in the election year. CNN Brasil reported on what it described as a "package of handouts" from Lula that injected R$ 270 billion into the economy during the electoral period. Jovem Pan published a comparison noting that both Bolsonaro and Lula increased Bolsa Família shortly before elections.
According to Estadão, Justice André Mendonça has decided not to pursue a conflict with Gilmar Mendes over the Bolsa Família increase, signaling that the court is not heading toward an internal dispute on the matter.
The ruling removes a legal obstacle for the adjustment to remain in place as the election period continues. What to watch next is whether any further legal challenges to the increase emerge, and how the decision shapes the broader debate over election-year spending.