Punishing the corrupt and renewing politics : the candidacies of Federal Police Officers for the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies (2002-2018)

Abstract

This article examines the changes in the profiles of candidates associated with the Federal Police over five elections for the Chamber of Deputies in Brazil, from 2002 to 2018, as well as the variations in their campaign discourses. To achieve this, the candidates were mapped using data from the Superior Electoral Court and other accessible sources. Campaign material available on the Internet was also collected. The data show that, in addition to the increase in the number of candidates linked to the Federal Police, there is a trend towards political professionalization, more participation from union and association leaders of the Federal Police in the analyzed elections, and a closer alignment of these candidates with center-right and right-wing parties. In 2010, Federal Police officers began using the ‘fight against corruption’ theme as an electoral asset in their election campaigns. We argue that these transformations occurred due to internal changes in the Federal Police, especially increased investment in the agency during Lula's first term (2003-2006), changes in the union activities of those linked to this agency, and the contextual effects of the Lava Jato operation.