Brazil: Open new electoral investigation against Bolsonaro for abuse of power

The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) of Brazil opened this Thursday a new investigation against the former president Jair Bolsonaro for abuse of political and economic power during the 2022 presidential campaign, in which he was defeated by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvareported official sources.

Bolsonaro, investigated in at least seven actions in the Electoral Court, may be sentenced to a period of political disqualification and become ineligible with the new process.

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The decision was made by the magistrate Benedict Gonçalves in response to a request from workers party (PT), the formation led by Lula, and the other parties that supported the candidacy of the progressive leader.

The open process investigates a possible abuse of political and economic power by the far-right leader for having carried out campaign events in the Planalto Presidential Palace and in the Alvorada Palaceofficial residence of the heads of state, including the announcement of support for his candidacy in the second round of the 2022 elections.

According to the coalition, by using the palaces as “meeting scene” With governors, federal representatives and celebrities, Bolsonaro misrepresented the purpose of public goods to leverage his candidacy.

According to the magistrate’s decision, the electoral legislation does not grant “unrestricted authorization” for the use of public property for private purposes.

For the judge, spaces such as the one used for the press conferences of the President of the Republic served to carry out “ostensive campaign rallies“, what were they looking for “project an image of political force” of Bolsonaro’s candidacy.

After the first round, Bolsonaro made daily announcements at the headquarters of the Presidency, in which he received the public support of governors re-elected in the first, and which were widely disseminated on social networks.

In the decision, the magistrate stressed that Bolsonaro is already responding to two other investigations for electoral use of public property.

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The former president, who has been in the United States since December 30, was also included in another investigation for his alleged participation in the coup attempt on January 8.

That day thousands of his followers attacked the headquarters of Congress, the Presidency and the Supreme Court, leaving a blanket of destruction in their wake.

Due to the events, more than 1,800 people have been detained, of which a third was released for humanitarian reasons and will respond to the process in freedom.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.