New Minister of Energy and Mining received over R$ 2 million from mining corporations to fund his campaign for the Senate

Nominated  by president Lula, Alexandre Silveira (PSD-MG) took on as Minister of Energy and Mining after receiving substantial donations from mining corporations in his two prior campaigns to be elected Senator. 

On the 2022 campaign, Silveira was backed by Lula for the Senate representation of Minas Gerais state; he was  defeated by bolsonarist Cleitinho Azevedo (Republicanos). Silveira’s party, PSD, received R$ 200,000 in donations from Frederico Carlos Gerdau Johannpeter, a partner of Gerdau corporation; the money was passed along to the candidate. In the 2014 Senate run, Silveira ran as an alternate to Antonio Anastasia (PSDB-MG); the duo was elected with more than R$ 2 million in donations from mining corporations.