Brazilian ex-official returns toilet she removed from office

A former city councilor in Brazil has returned the toilet and two sinks he removed from his office after losing re-election.

As Janaina Lima’s tenure as São Paulo councilwoman ended, footage of one of her staff taking down the facilities was posted online.

“I have decided to donate the equipment acquired from my own resources to the Chamber,” he said in a statement on Twitter following the backlash on social media.

“Apparently, neither I nor my advisors need a toilet.”

CCTV cameras showed staff in his office removing facilities that had been installed when he assumed office eight years ago.

In a statement posted on social media, Lima said the bathroom renovation was paid for with his own money and therefore is not council property.

Lima said he followed guidance from the legal department, which had indicated that all personally established resources should be removed.

He told Brazilian media outlet G1 that the hydraulics in the building are “sensitive”.

He said other fixtures he had purchased for the office – such as glass partitions and industrial-style light fittings – would remain in place under his predecessor.

Lima served as a consultant to the New Party until 1 January.

The 41-year-old lost her position to Brazilian Labor Party’s Adrilis Jorge in the 2024 elections.

At his opening ceremony on Monday, George told G1 that his team would “use the communal potty” until the situation is resolved.

He said, “I toured the office and thought the architecture was fantastic. But he took everything out.”

“She also took out the toilet and the sink. She didn’t say (that she was going to take them out). And that’s something she wouldn’t say, nor would I ask.”

The new Speaker of the House, Ricardo Teixeira, said “appropriate measures” would be taken.