Janaína Lima, former São Paulo councillor, at the centre of the Brazil councillor toilet scandal after removing office bathroom fixtures

In a bizarre twist to the Brazil councillor toilet scandal, former São Paulo city councillor Janaína Lima has returned a toilet and two sinks she removed from her office after losing her seat in the 2024 elections. The incident has ignited a wave of outrage and amusement nationwide, quickly becoming a trending topic on social media.

Footage of one of Lima’s employees removing the bathroom fixtures went viral online, showing the facilities being hauled away as her tenure ended. Public criticism quickly mounted, prompting Lima to issue a statement on X (formerly Twitter), defending her actions.

“I decided to donate the equipment I acquired with my own resources to the chamber,” she said. “Obviously, neither I nor my advisers need a toilet.”

The controversy began when CCTV footage revealed employees dismantling the fixtures installed during Lima’s eight-year tenure as a councillor for the New Party. Lima claimed the bathroom renovation was paid for with her personal funds and was therefore not considered council property. She argued that legal advice indicated she should remove any personally funded improvements from the office.

While the toilet drama may seem trivial, it has exposed deeper tensions about public office and accountability. Critics have questioned the appropriateness of Lima’s actions, especially given the backlash from her successor and the public.

Adrilles Jorge, who replaced Lima after winning the 2024 elections for the Brazilian Labour Party, expressed his astonishment at the state of the office. “I visited the office and thought the architecture was brilliant,” Jorge told Brazilian media outlet G1. “But she took everything out— even the toilet and the sink. She didn’t say she was going to take them, and it’s not something I would’ve thought to ask.”

Jorge joked that his team would “use a communal potty” until the facilities were replaced. However, the situation also drew the attention of Ricardo Teixeira, the new president of the municipal chamber, who pledged to take “appropriate measures” to address the matter.

Lima attempted to downplay the controversy, explaining that other fixtures she had purchased, such as a glass partition and industrial-style lighting, were left in place for her successor. She also emphasised that the plumbing in the building was “sensitive,” suggesting the removal was necessary.

Despite her explanations, the incident has drawn significant public scrutiny and ridicule, with many Brazilians questioning the practicality and ethics of her decision. The removal of something as basic as a toilet has turned into a symbol of political pettiness and poor judgment, sparking widespread debates about the role of personal responsibility in public office.

Lima’s eight-year career in Sao Paulo politics ended on 1 January after she lost her seat to Jorge in the 2024 elections. Her departure, however, has now been overshadowed by this unusual incident, which has drawn both local and international attention.

The scandal is a stark reminder of the sometimes-absurd situations that can arise in politics. For Lima, what may have initially seemed like a minor logistical matter has turned into a public relations disaster, leaving her legacy in Sao Paulo mired in mockery and controversy.

While the returned toilet may close the chapter on this peculiar saga, it has already cemented its place as a bizarre footnote in Brazilian political history.