Toffoli’s suspension of part of Renan Santos’s digital campaign draws criticism at Brazil’s electoral court

A decision that blocks much of Renan Santos’s digital campaign has exposed disagreement inside Brazil’s top electoral court over whether the violation warrants such a broad measure.

Supreme Court and Superior Electoral Court Justice Dias Toffoli suspended online advertising by Santos, the Mission party’s presidential candidate, after he failed to report all of his social-media accounts within the deadline required by electoral law. Toffoli also ordered the collection of data from posts and suspended transfers from the Electoral Fund, spending from any money already received, and Santos’s participation in debates on radio, television, podcasts and other media.

The order also covers Santos’s running mate, Aroldo Medina. The Mission party is entitled to 3.3 million reais from the Electoral Fund, although it says it does not plan to use the money.

“

persecutory

At least one TSE member privately argued that the irregularity should be examined through an electoral investigation into abuse of communication media, rather than through a challenge to the legality of Santos’s candidacy registration. TSE interlocutors said recent decisions rejecting candidacy registrations, including one involving Pablo Marçal, concerned eligibility requirements rather than irregular campaign advertising.

One minister said candidates must provide their online addresses to obtain registration, but an omission should not itself justify rejecting a candidacy, much as an incorrect address, name or telephone number would not. Toffoli requested explanations from Santos’s defense, and the candidate could still risk being excluded from the race depending on the response. Santos denounced the decision as “persecutory.”

“

Those who attack the judiciary are attacking the poor