Brazil
Justice initiates preliminary investigations against Bolsonaro
Acting President of Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro. photo
© Eraldo Peres/AP/dpa
Brazil will elect a new head of state in early October. Incumbent President Bolsonaro has doubts about the security of the ballot boxes and the correct counting of the votes. Now he has to deal with the judiciary.
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has now called the judiciary into action with public doubts about the electoral system of the South American country.
In a preliminary investigation, videos should first be viewed and evidence checked, announced Deputy Attorney General Lindôra Araújo after a report by Globo television. At a meeting with ambassadors in mid-July, the right-wing politician expressed doubts about the security of the ballot boxes and the correct counting of the votes. He presented no evidence. Brazil will elect the next president in early October.
The opposition filed a criminal complaint because of the statements and accused Bolsonaro of wanting to abolish the democratic constitutional state and inciting the armed forces against the constitutional bodies. In the election, the incumbent is running against the left-wing former head of state Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He is way behind in the polls.
Bolsonaro has repeatedly questioned the Brazilian electoral system. Similar to former US President Donald Trump, he has already indicated that he may not want to recognize the result. In May, the voting system – which is entirely electronic – passed a security test by the Supreme Electoral Court.