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São Paulo and Salvador face bus fleet reduction allegations during elections
During the second round of presidential elections in Brazil, allegations surfaced regarding the intentional reduction of public bus fleets in major cities, including São Paulo and Salvador, to hinder voter access.
In Salvador, the Regional Electoral Court (TRE-BA) ordered the full restoration of the bus fleet under a penalty of R$ 1 million per hour. The court also decreed the arrest of the Municipal Secretary of Mobility, Pablo Souza. The Salvador administration attributed the vehicle retention to the presence of electoral propaganda on the buses.
In São Paulo, PSOL lawmakers filed requests for the arrest of Mayor Ricardo Nunes, Transport Secretary Celso Jorge Caldeira, and SPTrans President Victor Hugo Borges. They cited data from the Businfo app showing that only 71.7% of the municipal fleet was in circulation at 1:20 PM, despite a court order requiring 100% operation. The reduction was reportedly more pronounced in peripheral areas like the East Zone, specifically in Pires do Rio, Parque do Carmo, Barro Branco, and Cidade Tiradentes.
Mayor Ricardo Nunes denied the allegations, stating that transport supply met demand. SPTrans noted that the notification regarding the full fleet requirement arrived with less than 12 hours' notice, creating operational challenges.
Entities
Celso Jorge Caldeira · Flávio Bolsonaro · Guilherme Boulos · Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva · Pablo Souza · Ricardo Nunes · SPTrans · São Paulo · Tribunal Regional Eleitoral · Victor Hugo Borges
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The São Paulo administration claimed the bus reduction was due to electoral propaganda on vehicles. www.dgabc.com.br
- [DISPUTED] At 1:20 PM on election Sunday, 71.7% of São Paulo's municipal buses were in circulation. www.diariodocentrodomundo.com.br · www.leiaja.com · revistaforum.com.br · imprensapublica.com.br · www.nitronewsbrasil.com.br · +2 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Salvador court ordered the arrest of the Municipal Secretary of Mobility, Pablo Souza. www.dgabc.com.br
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Boulos identified Pires do Rio, Parque do Carmo, Barro Branco, and Cidade Tiradentes as critical areas in São Paulo's East Zone. www.brasil247.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] The TRE-SP ordered 100% of the bus fleet to be in operation on election Sunday. www.cnnbrasil.com.br · www.diariodocentrodomundo.com.br · www.leiaja.com · revistaforum.com.br · www.brasilparalelo.com.br · +3 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Guilherme Boulos requested the arrest of São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes. www.cnnbrasil.com.br · www.diariodocentrodomundo.com.br · revistaforum.com.br · www.brasilparalelo.com.br · www.nitronewsbrasil.com.br · +3 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 3,898 buses remained in garages during the monitored period in São Paulo. www.diariodocentrodomundo.com.br · www.leiaja.com · revistaforum.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] The TRE-BA ordered the full restoration of the bus fleet in Salvador under penalty of a R$ 1 million hourly fine. www.dgabc.com.br