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Proposal to Increase the Number of Seats in the Chamber of Deputies May Bring Significant Changes to the Political Representation of the States and Directly Impact Public Spending, with a Considerable Increase in Annual Expenses.
In a vote held last Tuesday, May 6, the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill aimed at increasing the number of federal deputies.
The project, according to the rapporteur of the proposal, Deputy Damião Feliciano (União-PB), provides for the creation of 18 new seats in the Legislative, raising the total number of parliamentarians from 513 to 531 starting in 2026.
The measure was approved with 270 favorable votes, 207 against, and now goes to the Senate for analysis.
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The proposal amends Complementary Law No. 78, which regulates the fixing of the number of deputies in the Chamber.
The objective is to adjust the representation of the states based on population growth, according to the most recent data from the Census conducted by IBGE.
The increase in seats will be distributed proportionally to the states with the highest population growth in recent years.
Financial Impact of the Change
According to the rapporteur’s opinion, the annual financial impact of the increase in deputies may exceed R$ 64 million.
The calculation was based on the operational costs of the new positions and includes salaries, benefits, and other expenses related to the new parliamentarians.
Each deputy would generate a cost of approximately R$ 3.6 million per year, according to the estimate presented.
However, Damião Feliciano assured that the budget of the Chamber of Deputies could already accommodate these new expenses, even with the increase in positions.
The General Directorate of the Chamber concluded, based on the budgetary data for 2025, that the House would have enough margin to absorb the additional costs resulting from the approval of the project.
How Will the Distribution of the New Seats Be Made?
The project provides for the following redistribution of the 18 new seats:
- Santa Catarina will receive 4 additional seats;
- Pará will gain 4 seats;
- Amazonas will have 2 new seats;
- Rio Grande do Norte will see the inclusion of 2 seats;
- Mato Grosso will count on 2 more seats;
- Goiás, Ceará, Minas Gerais, and Paraná will each have 1 seat.
The distribution of the seats will follow the guidelines of the Demographic Census conducted by IBGE, being submitted to the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) to ensure the accuracy of the data and the legality of the process.
The adjustment aims to make representation fairer, reflecting the population reality of each state.
STF Action and Decision on Redistribution
The proposal was driven by a determination from the Supreme Federal Court (STF), which required the National Congress to review the distribution of deputy seats based on the current population of each state.
The discussion began following an action brought by the government of Pará, which argued that the distribution of the 513 seats was made in 1993, without considering the population growth that has occurred since then.
The government of Pará argues that, since 2010, the state has been entitled to four more federal deputies, based on population growth.
The STF, in light of this demand, set a deadline until June 30, 2025, for the National Congress to find a solution to the issue.
If the deadline is not met, the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) will make the decision on the redistribution of federal and state deputies, considering population changes and the methodology established by the TSE’s own resolution.
The impact of the increase in seats will be significant, as it will directly affect how votes are distributed among the states, taking into account the most recent census from IBGE, which was conducted in 2022.
In addition, the TSE will use demographic data to ensure that the distribution respects the constitutional minimum and maximum per jurisdiction.
What’s Coming Up?
Now, with the approval in the Chamber, the bill goes to the Senate, where it will be debated and, if approved, sanctioned by the president.
If the proposal is sanctioned, Brazil will have a more representative National Congress, based on the current population needs and demands of each state.
With the possible expansion of seats, parliamentarians will have the responsibility to deal with issues that directly affect the population of their states.
The measure may also bring a series of political consequences, as the states that will receive more seats will have greater influence over the decisions of the National Congress.
The approval of the project may, however, spark debates about the maintenance costs of the Chamber and the priorities for public spending, especially in a context of fiscal challenges and limited budget.
For many, the increase in seats may be seen as a reflection of demographic reality, but for others, it raises concerns about the financial impact that the measure would entail.
What Does the Population Think About This?
This type of change in Brazilian politics tends to generate discussions among voters and experts.
On one hand, the measure may be seen as positive, as it ensures that the more populous states have greater representation in Congress.
On the other hand, some question whether the increase in parliamentarians will really bring significant improvements for the population, or if it will be just another increase in the costs of the political system.
Will the expansion of the Chamber bring more benefits to the population, or is the increase in expenses with deputies a concern that should be considered?
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