The Superior Electoral Court of Brazil(ISE) began the trial against former President Jair Bolsonaro for attacks on the elective system, which may disqualify him from holding public office for eight years and subsequently leave him out of the presidential elections scheduled for 2026.

Brasilia.- On July 18th, the ex-governor repeated unfounded and already disproved suspicions about electronic ballot boxes and the process of the elections before some 40 foreign diplomats, gave a presentation with misinformation about the said ballot boxes, and suggested the participation of the Armed Forces to correct voting system failures. He also questioned the integrity of the electoral method and the ministers of the TSE and the Federal Supreme Court.

He based his rhetoric on an investigation opened by the Federal Police in 2018, with the authorization of the Federal Supreme Court, on the hacking of the system of the Superior Electoral Court. However, the court repeatedly reported that access was blocked and did not interfere with any results.

A month later, the Democratic Labor Party accused Bolsonaro and General Walter Braga Netto, who ran for vice president, of alleged abuse of political power and misuse of the media during the electoral campaign.

If necessary, the examination of the actions in the Superior Electoral Court may continue in the sessions of June 27th and 29th.

To date, four witness hearings have been held during the investigation of the Electoral Judicial Investigation Action, presented during the elections, whose purpose is to purify behaviors that could unbalance the dispute between candidates in a referendum.

If deemed appropriate, the appeal may end with the declaration of ineligibility of the persons represented and of those who may have contributed to the practice of the act for eight years, in addition to the cancellation of the registration or diploma of the candidacy. (PL)