Brazil: lawsuit calling for Bolsonaro’s ineligibility reaches final stage

By Gianlucca Gattai

On Friday (31), the electoral corregidor-general, Benedito Gonçalves, concluded the phase of evidence collection in the process leading to the ineligibility of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) Justice ordered that the parties be summoned to present their final arguments in the case file.

The action, filed by PDT (Democratic Labor Party), deals with the meeting promoted by Bolsonaro at the Alvorada Palace with ambassadors in July last year.

On that occasion, the former president criticized the electoral system.

The parts are Bolsonaro, the then-candidate for vice-president Walter Braga Netto (PL), and PDT, one of President Lula’s base parties and author of the representation that initiated the action.

After the summons, they will have two days to present their closing arguments.

The Prosecutor General Electoral Office (PGE) will also give its opinion on the case within 48 hours.

The PGE is headed by sub-protractor Paulo Gonet Branco, appointed by Augusto Aras as deputy general electoral prosecutor.

The lawsuit investigates the alleged practice of abuse of political power and undue use of the media in holding meeting with dozens of foreign representatives.

In his decision, Gonçalves states that there is a “rich body of evidence” in the case records and that it was “formed with broad participation of the parties and the MPE [Electoral Public Ministry]”.

According to him, it was possible to “combine contradictory and celerity, conducting the procedure with strict observance of procedural dialogue, objective good faith, the principle of no surprise and the duty to provide reasons.

“In a little more than three months, five hearings were held, and all documents were requested, including confidential procedures, related to the facts relevant to the outcome of the case,” he said.

With information from Gazeta Brasil

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