(Reuters] – Brazil’s Lower House approved Wednesday a measure to make permanent 400 reais ($80.58), Auxilio Brasil’s monthly welfare program that helps families who are in extreme poverty. This decision was made months ahead of Brazil’s October presidential election. 

Otherwise, the Senate must approve this proposal.

In the beginning, this measure was limited to the award of an exceptional benefit that would complement Auxilio Brasil between December 2021 and December 2022.

An ex-minister in Jair Bolsonaro’s government Joao Rom, is the lead of this bill. He accepted a modification to the document that would authorize permanent payments for the welfare program.

Even opposition members supported the bill, even though they celebrated its approval. However, they stressed that the government only supported the measure due to October’s elections, in which far-right President Bolsonaro will be seeking re-election.

Brazil aid or electoral help? “It is clear that the interest in electoral is evident,” Maria do Rosario (leftist Workers Party) said.

Rodrigo Pacheco (Senate president) stated that approval of the measure is possible.

($1 = 4.9642 reais)