The Public Electoral Ministry of Brazil requested this Friday the conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro, on the first day of the trial that could leave him disqualified for eight years, while the defense argued that only a meeting with diplomats is at stake.
The trial continues next Tuesday with the vote of the seven magistrates of the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), since the defense, the prosecution and the Public Ministry have been heard.
In the action, corroborated by the Electoral Public Ministry, it is argued that Bolsonaro committed abuse of political power and use of the media during a meeting that the then Brazilian head of state organized, in the middle of the electoral campaign, with foreign ambassadors in the Alvorada Palace. , official seat of the President in Brasilia, on July 18, 2022.
“The intention was purely electoral. The candidate took advantage of his functional situation as President of the Republic to mediate news that was revealed as contrary to the truth, to obtain the attention and support of the voters. The use of the public function for the benefit is characterized by an improper choice,” said the Deputy Electoral Attorney General, Paulo Gonet Branco, in the plenary session of the TSE.
At this meeting, the then President launched several unfounded attacks on the reliability of the electoral process and, more precisely, of the electronic ballot boxes, used since 1996 and validated by various international organizations, and the same ones that elected him for several terms as a deputy. federal deputy and president.
Bolsonaro, before some 40 ambassadors from the most varied countries, including Portugal, said, without foundation, that the system could be subject to fraud and would not be auditable, insinuated that it was a company that counted the votes and not the TSE and also said, without any proof, that a ‘hacker’ had had access “to everything that is inside the TSE”.
In the action taken by the Democratic Labor Party (PDT) before the body that regulates the entire electoral process in the country, the party requests that former President Jair Bolsonaro and his vice-presidential candidate Walter Souza Braga Neto be declared ineligible.
However, Paulo Gonet Branco returned today to defend the acquittal of General Walter Braga Neto. On the other hand, Jair Bolsonaro’s defense lawyer considered that what is at stake in the trial that began in the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) is not ‘Bolsonarism’, but a meeting with foreign ambassadors.
“Bolsonarismo is not on trial, as people would like to believe, we are not arbitrating an imaginary bloody dispute between civilization and barbarism,” said Tarcísio Vieira de Carvalho, on the TSE rostrum.
Earlier, the lawyer representing the prosecution in the trial that could cost former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro his political rights, said he should be found guilty of electoral crimes and attempted coup.
“Systemic attacks on democracy, especially on ministers. What a sad scene in our history. To this Court and to the STF [Supremo Tribunal Federal]. A clear attempt at a military coup, a coup d’état,” said lawyer Walber Agra, at the TSE plenary session.
The trial took place in a calm atmosphere and at the entrance there were no demonstrations, neither against nor in favor of the former head of state of Brazil.
Jair Bolsonaro was not present in court and, while the trial was taking place, he was traveling to the state of Porto Alegre for a two-day political agenda.
Source: TSF
