Brazil's congress sets up fund to cover lack of campaign finance

Brazil's President Michel Temer smiles during a ceremony in commemoration of the National Day of Micro and Small Enterprises, at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil October 4, 2017. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's scandal-plagued political class voted on Wednesday to set up a 1.7 billion reais (£409.6 million) fund with taxpayer money to finance election campaigns, making up for a dearth of private funding ahead of next year's general election.

A ban on corporate donations coupled with the drying up of under-the-table contributions and kickbacks in the wake of the country's biggest corruption scandal have left lawmakers struggling to raise campaign funding.