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🇧🇷 Brazil /Elections & Politics

PT says Flávio Bolsonaro has father's 'coup culture,' considers legal action over voting machine claims

From Folha de S.Paulo · () Portuguese

Translated from Portuguese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Brazil's Workers' Party (PT) is considering legal action against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro for spreading false information about electronic voting machines.
  • The PT accuses Flávio of adopting the same "coup-mongering culture" as his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, and using similar tactics from the 2022 elections.
  • The party aims to link Flávio Bolsonaro to his father's controversial legacy to reduce his appeal as a moderate figure.

Brazil's Workers' Party (PT) is evaluating legal measures against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro following his dissemination of false information regarding the country's electronic voting system during a meeting with ambassadors. The PT's president, Edinho Silva, stated that the party views Flávio Bolsonaro as perpetuating the same "coup-mongering culture" as his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, employing tactics reminiscent of the 2022 election cycle.

A central strategy for the PT in President Lula's re-election campaign involves diminishing Flávio Bolsonaro's public image by associating him closely with his father. The party seeks to prevent the senator from being perceived as a more moderate political figure. Silva asserted in a statement that Flávio Bolsonaro demonstrates the same "coup-mongering culture" as Jair Bolsonaro and utilizes identical methods from the 2022 elections.

The PT leadership highlighted that electronic voting machines have been instrumental in electing Flávio Bolsonaro and other family members multiple times. They referenced former President Jair Bolsonaro's 2022 meeting with ambassadors to discredit the electoral process, an event that contributed to his ineligibility ruling and his conviction in a coup plot case.

Edinho Silva emphasized that disinformation targeting Brazil's voting system from a presidential pre-candidate is unacceptable. He warned that discrediting the voting machines is an anti-democratic tactic with potentially severe consequences, citing the January 8, 2023, attacks on government buildings as a recent example. The PT is currently reviewing "appropriate judicial measures" against the senator.

Sabemos quais são as consequências dessa ofensiva antidemocrática. Como provado na investigação e, posteriormente, no julgamento, da tentativa de golpe de janeiro de 23, tentar descredibilizar as urnas é método contra a nossa democracia. E o resultado pode ser gravíssimo, como a história recente demonstrou

— Edinho SilvaEdinho Silva warning about the dangers of discrediting Brazil's voting system.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Folha de S.Paulo in Portuguese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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