Brazilian Congress Slashes Aldir Blanc Cultural Funding by 85% in 2025 Budget

The Brazilian National Congress approved the 2025 budget law on Thursday, March 20, with a devastating 85% cut to the Aldir Blanc National Policy (PNAB), the country's primary cultural funding program. Funding plummeted from R$3 billion to R$480 million. The cut was executed by budget rapporteur Senator Angelo Coronel (PSD-BA), contradicting the government's commitment to maintain resources. In response, the National Forum of Culture Secretaries announced a mass mobilization to Brasília on March 27 to reverse the decision. The forum, led by Espírito Santo's Culture Secretary Fabrício Noronha, called the PNAB a historic achievement for Brazilian culture. The approved budget simultaneously allocated R$50 billion for parliamentary amendments. The Aldir Blanc Law, passed unanimously during the Jair Bolsonaro administration, is a mandatory expense law designed to support cultural projects across all municipalities, states, and the Federal District without partisan distinction. The federal government had planned annual R$3 billion allocations until 2027. The law's implementation relies on funding distributed to federative entities through open calls and awards. The budget project now awaits sanction by President Lula and publication in the Official Gazette.