Brazil elections 2022: Armed Forces will try to ‘convince’ Superior Electoral Court TSE of proposals, says Bolsonaro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said Thursday (28) that representatives of the Armed Forces would continue to hold meetings to “convince” the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) of proposals for this year’s elections.

“The Armed Forces have been invited; they continue to work and will certainly hold more meetings to convince the TSE that proposals are welcome for the good of all,” Bolsonaro said during the weekly live broadcast on social media.

The patriotic-conservative leader said he had seen “messages in the press” that “they do not want to accept the observations of the Armed Forces.” In the recommendations, the military suggested, among other things, that “measures be taken to validate and count each voter’s vote” and that “provisions be made in case of irregularities in the elections.”

In an “act of free expression” with congressmen, the president said Wednesday (27) that Brazil does not need a vote with printed receipts to ensure the “smooth running” of the October elections. However, he defended the use of other control mechanisms.

He also said that the Armed Forces have officially proposed to the electoral court the use of a unique “armed forces computer,” to count the votes. It is not entirely clear at this time whether or not this computer would be a product of the country’s intelligence services.

In Thursday’s live broadcast, Bolsanro said that a meeting had been held to address the Military’s proposals to the TSE and that “nothing was finalized.”

“In other words, everything is fine for the TSE, and we are now supposed to trust the elections. And those who still distrust? Hey, keep on distrusting. What I can guarantee you: We will have clean elections this year. I think that’s what everyone wants, without exception, except those who want to do something we disagree with,” he explained.