Parliamentary behavior and campaign financing: the case of the dam rupture in Mariana

Abstract

The article focuses on the effects that the occurrence of socio-environmental disasters has on the political action of parliamentarians. Our objective is to analyze parliamentary behavior at a critical moment, namely the disaster of the Fundão dam, operated by Samarco/Vale/BHP. Specifically, we seek to answer two questions: what the federal deputies proposed about the disaster, and whether such initiatives relate to campaign donations. To this end, we analyzed the legislative proposals presented by the federal deputies between November 5, 2015, date of the occurrence of the disaster, and December 31, 2018. We note that most of the MPs highly funded by Samarco abstained from making proposals about the disaster. The parliamentarians acting contrary to the company come mainly from the states hit by the disaster (Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo), which signals to action in the sense of being accountable to their voters.