Executioner of the former president, minister Benedito Gonçalves says goodbye to the Electoral Court this 5th and will be replaced by Raul Araújo
The TSE (Superior Electoral Court) judges this Thursday (9.Nov.2023) a representation of the Brazil Coalition of Hope, of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), against former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). The then head of the Executive is accused of disseminating false information in the 2022 elections that associated the PT member with the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital).
During the election campaign, Bolsonaro made a series of publications that linked Lula to the faction. In one of them, on October 16, the former president reposted a video in which a supposed member of the PCC mentions the PT. For the authors of the lawsuit, Bolsonaro’s intention was to link Lula with the criminal group.
“The video posted on 10/16/22 comes to complement the narrative that has already been used by the defendant and all his supporters who, it is worth highlighting, have been undertaking this lying and dishonest narrative for a long time with the sole aim of operating a defamatory, insulting campaign and attack on the honor of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with consequent violation of the fairness of the claim”, says the representation.
The defense of Lula’s coalition asks that the former president be sentenced to pay a fine of R$25,000 for irregular advertising. He also wants the complete content to be removed from the networks and for Bolsonaro to no longer spread misinformation with the same content.
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EXCHANGE OF MINISTERS
Also this Thursday (Nov 9), Minister Benedito Gonçalves says goodbye to the Electoral Court. This will be the last trial session as effective minister and inspector of the TSE, due to the end of his two-year period. Gonçalves will continue to serve as minister of the STJ (Superior Court of Justice).
The position of TSE inspector is always occupied by the oldest member of the STJ. In this case, it will be Minister Raul Araújo, who will remain in post until September 2024.
As inspector, Gonçalves investigated the conduct of presidential candidates in the 2022 elections and voted for Bolsonaro’s ineligibility. In the action regarding the former president’s meeting with ambassadors, the minister authorized the inclusion, as evidence, of the draft found in the home of former Justice Minister Anderson Torres. He stated at the time that the former president’s stance “flirted with coupism”.
His successor had a different opinion and said he did not see “sufficient gravity” in Bolsonaro’s attitudes. Araújo was responsible for banning political demonstrations by artists during Lollapalooza. When he takes over the internal affairs department, the minister will also take on the role of reporting on actions relating to the last presidential elections, including processes targeting Lula and Bolsonaro.
