Bolsonaro's Campaign Seeks Turmoil 4 Days before Runoff Election

Electoral Court rejects action related to radio insertions; President says he will appeal until the end

Brasília and Belo Horizonte

An action by Jair Bolsonaro's (PL) campaign regarding an alleged boycott of his electoral insertions on the radio was rejected by the Chief Justice of the Electoral Court, Alexandre de Moraes, for lack of evidence.

The President, who seeks re-election running against Lula (PT), said he will appeal: "We will go to the last consequences within the four lines of the Constitution".

On Monday (24), Bolsonaro's campaign said that broadcasters in the North and Northeast had suppressed PL insertions.

For Moraes, the allegation lacks evidence and is based on a survey carried out by a company not specialized in auditing.

TOPSHOT - Brazilian President and re-election candidate Jair Bolsonaro gestures during a press conference at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, on October 26, 2022. - The Brazilian Superior Electoral Court (TSE) denied on Wednesday a request from the campaign for the re-election of Jair Bolsonaro to investigate alleged irregularities in the transmission of radio electoral propaganda, a fact described as serious by the president. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP) - AFP


The Supreme court justice pointed out a possible electoral crime to disrupt the runoff election, which will take place this Sunday (30).

The survey carried out by Bolsonaro's coalition, which is behind in polls of voting intentions, cannot prove the complaint.

The mentioned broadcasters have contested the compiled data, and one of the radio stations claims that the PL failed to deliver the inserts for a period, which is why they were not broadcasted.

Moraes sent the case to the Federal Supreme Court for analysis.

Also, this Wednesday (26) Alexandre Gomes Machado, an advisor to the Electoral Court, was exonerated on the grounds of political action in his role, and of disrupting the work of the court.

Machado says he was retaliated against for pointing out the flaw in the insertions. The Electoral Court called his accusation false.

Translated by Cassy Dias

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