Partido Novo denounces Lula in the MP for abuse of power in “campaign” for Boulos

The Novo Party filed, this Friday (3), a complaint against the president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) with the Public Electoral Ministry (MPE) for alleged abuse of authority and economic power during the celebration of Labor Day.

On the occasion, Lula participated in an event organized by union centrals in the parking lot of Arena Corinthians, in São Paulo. In a speech, which was broadcast on social media, the president explicitly asked for a vote for federal deputy Guilherme Boulos (PSOL-SP), pre-candidate for the capital of São Paulo. The speech may constitute an early campaign in accordance with the criteria of the Elections Law (Law nº 9,504/1997).

The representation of the Partido Novo points out that the “Culture and Rights Festival” was financed with public money, such as sponsorship of R$ 3 million from Petrobras and another R$ 250 thousand from the Rouanet Law − which the party claims would have benefited “from disproportionate way” Boulos’ campaign. In the election, the Workers’ Party (PT) has already supported the deputy and nominated former mayor Marta Suplicy as vice-president.

“The so-called ‘Culture and Rights Festival’ was, in fact, a rally. It should have been funded by the trade unions and the PT, not with money from Culture”, said economist Marina Helena Santos (Novo), pre-candidate for mayor of São Paulo, who also signed the complaint filed with the Public Ministry.

During the event at Arena Corinthians, Lula said that Boulos was fighting “a real war” in the most populous capital of the country, as he faced three of his political opponents − reference made to former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), the governor of São Paulo , Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), and Nunes, who were not mentioned by name. And he asked for support for the parliamentarian’s candidacy.

“He is facing three opponents. And that’s why I want to tell you: no one will defeat this guy if you vote for Boulos for mayor of São Paulo in the next elections. And I’m going to make an appeal: every person who voted for Lula in 1989, in 1994, in 1998, in 2006, in 2010, in 2022 has to vote for Boulos for mayor of São Paulo”, stated Lula.

Read too: Did Lula commit an electoral crime by asking for an early vote for Boulos? Understand

The Elections Law considers “early electoral propaganda” to be the explicit request for a vote before the start of the campaign period authorized by the Electoral Court. According to the rule, campaigns officially start on August 16, right after the deadline for registering candidates. Experts consulted by InfoMoney They also see the possibility of the episode being part of a possible abuse of political power.

The Partido Novo obtained a favorable injunction yesterday (2) in another action against Lula, in which electoral judge Paulo Eduardo de Almeida Sorci, from the Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo (TRE-SP), ordered the removal of the videos in which the vote request appears.

The party is now calling for an investigation into a possible abuse of political and economic power, given that the appeal for votes took place during an official commitment. The applicants allege that Lula’s conduct “breaks the equality between the candidates, compromising the integrity of the electoral process”.

“In the present case, possible electoral irregularity is evident in the aspect of abuse of economic power (due to legal entities supporting the event) and abuse of political power (due to the president of the republic, in an official commitment asking for a vote for pre-election). candidate)”, claimed the party.

In the first case, the Partido Novo highlights that the act was organized by the trade unions CUT (Central Única dos Trabalhadores), Força Sindical, UGT (União Geral dos Trabalhadores), CTB (Central dos Trabalhadores do Brasil), NCST (Nova Central Workers Union), CSB (Central dos Sindicatos Brasileiros) and Intersindical Central da Classe Trabalhadora. And he claims that, because these are legal entities, maintaining the event in favor of candidacy “evidences abuse of economic power”.

In the case of abuse of political power, the party says that Lula, in his speech, “goes beyond” the labor issue that is traditionally addressed in political speeches on May 1st (Worker’s Day). The request, according to the applicants, harms the equality of candidates in the dispute for mayor of São Paulo.

“It is essential to launch an investigation to determine the occurrence of abuse of political power and abuse of economic power, considering the use of the structure of an event of such magnitude, with the expenditure of resources from legal entities and the participation of the highest authority of the Power Federal Executive of the country”, he maintains.