Brazil’s Workers Party urges Electoral Prosecutor to investigate Bolsonaro for early campaigning

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Workers Party (PT) on Thursday, January 6, filed a complaint with the Electoral Prosecutor’s Office (MPE) against President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) for early electoral campaigning and abuse of economic power.

The PT’s complaint was based on a story by journalist Rubens Valente published on UOL, in which several billboards scattered in rural properties in Brazil’s Midwest are reported. The billboards feature photos of Bolsonaro, declared support for his candidacy this year, and messages praising his government’s policies.

The party also cites a demonstration by the Cuiabá Rural Union against the “Monday with no meat” campaign promoted by Bradesco bank.

According to the PT, the protest was used to campaign for Bolsonaro’s candidacy, as shown in videos circulating on the internet. In one of the videos submitted by the PT to the MPE, a protester says that “to reelect the President of Brazil, each farmer will donate an ox”, and, in case of defeat, Brazilians will be “like Venezuela” – in reference to the country’s economic and humanitarian crisis.

In the complaint, the PT claims that the billboards and the event in support of Bolsonaro’s candidacy conflict with freedom of expression, because they “unbalance the electoral dispute by highlighting one of the most notorious pre-candidates to the dispute for the Presidency of the Republic, with no equal opportunity to other candidates.”

“Jair Bolsonaro’s responsibility arises from the fact that a candidate for political office cannot abuse the economic and/or political powers he holds, nor allow third parties to do so on his behalf,” the PT says. “There is no doubt about the benefit gained by Mr. Jair Bolsonaro from the electoral propaganda promoted by individuals and legal entities.”

The party further claims that not only has there been anticipated electoral propaganda in favor of the current President, but that it has also been financed by the private sector, which is prohibited by the Electoral Justice, including during the regular campaign period.

“There is an evident movement of anticipated electoral campaign promoted by the rural sector of the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, which must be investigated and prosecuted by the Brazilian Electoral Justice in order to protect and guarantee a fair and democratic electoral race,” highlights the PT in another excerpt.

Renato Ribeiro, PhD in State Law from the University of São Paulo and member of the electoral law commission of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB-SP), says that the allegations of abuse of economic power filed by the PT, if admitted by the MPE and judged by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), could result in the removal of Bolsonaro from office and his ineligibility for 8 years.

A potential conviction could remove him from office both for the current term and in the event of reelection.