Electoral courts issue right of reply rulings for Brazilian candidates

Electoral courts in Brazil have issued several rulings regarding the right of reply for political candidates. In Pernambuco, the Electoral Court rejected a video content intended as a right of reply for Governor Raquel Lyra. Judge Fernando Braga Damasceno noted a distortion of the authorized message regarding the governor’s salary, which could lead to penalties for her coalition.

In Minas Gerais, the Regional Electoral Court (TRE-MG) granted a right of reply to the “Minas é do Povo” coalition against candidate Mateus Simões. The court ruled that Simões had shared untrue information on social media claiming that vice-gubernatorial candidate Luís Eduardo Falcão was under investigation by a Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI). Simões is required to publish a response video on his Instagram profile within two days.

Additionally, in Pernambuco, Recife's Housing Secretary, Felipe Cury, criticized Governor Lyra's announcements regarding housing solutions for the Caranguejo Tabaiares community, stating that the project was already a result of a partnership between the Recife City Hall and the Federal Government.