Alagoas Electoral Court protects political expression at Ufal

The Regional Electoral Court of Alagoas (TRE-AL) has suspended a previous order that required the removal of political posters and materials from the Federal University of Alagoas (Ufal) campus. The decision, issued by Judge Antonio José de Carvalho Araújo, follows a request from the Electoral Public Prosecutor's Office.

The ruling ensures that political expressions, including those critical of or supportive of specific candidates and their proposals, may remain on campus. However, materials containing an explicit request for votes must still be removed. The court also removed the obligation for the university rectorate to continuously monitor these materials and dismissed warnings regarding potential criminal liability for the rector.

In his justification, the judge cited constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression, the plurality of ideas, and university autonomy. The decision aligns with a binding precedent from the Supreme Federal Court (STF) regarding the protection of thought and critical discourse within university environments.