Janaína Lima, a former city councillor in Sao Paulo, returned a toilet and sinks she removed from her office after her electoral defeat, amidst accusations of improper asset handling.
Former Brazilian Councillor Returns Office Fixtures Amid Controversy
Former Brazilian Councillor Returns Office Fixtures Amid Controversy
Janaína Lima faced backlash after removing a toilet and sinks from her office post-election, later opting to return them following public outcry.
Former city councillor Janaína Lima stirred controversy in Brazil after removing and later returning a toilet and two sinks from her office. Following her loss in the recent elections, Lima faced significant backlash on social media when footage of her staff hauling away the plumbing fixtures was shared online.
Lima clarified that the fixtures were funded with her personal resources, thus constituting property she believed she had the right to remove. “I decided to donate the equipment I acquired with my own resources to the chamber,” she stated on the platform X, after receiving criticism for her initial actions. She emphasized, “Obviously, neither I nor my advisers need a toilet.”
CCTV footage caught her employees in the act of stripping the office of the infrastructure she had installed during her eight-year tenure. Lima mentioned that she only followed legal guidance recommending the removal of any personal assets from the premises.
Interviewed by Brazilian media outlet G1, Lima expressed concern for the building's "sensitive" hydraulic system and confirmed that while the plumbing was taken, other items such as a glass partition and industrial-style light fixtures would remain for her successor.
Lima was a member of the New Party until January 1, when she lost her position to Adrilles Jorge of the Brazilian Labour Party. In a light-hearted remark during his inauguration, Jorge noted, “We will use a communal potty until the situation is resolved,” reflecting on the unusual turn of events. He expressed disappointment, stating, “I visited the office and thought the architecture was brilliant. But she took everything out.”
The new president of the House, Ricardo Teixeira, assured that "appropriate measures" would be taken to address the implications of Lima's actions regarding the office fixtures.
