Justice Minister Toffoli calls for end to political insults in Brazil

Supreme Federal Court and Superior Electoral Court Minister Dias Toffoli has advocated for stricter regulations to prevent political campaigns from becoming an “arena of insults.” Speaking at a seminar in Brasília attended by representatives from 49 countries, Toffoli emphasized that electoral propaganda should focus on government programs and policy discussions rather than personal attacks and uncivilized confrontations.

Toffoli noted that because electoral advertising benefits from tax exemptions for television channels, citizens should not be forced to fund the broadcast of offensive content. He identified disinformation, the use of bots and chatbots, and the influence of social media as significant challenges to democratic integrity.

Additionally, the Minister addressed the gender gap in Brazilian politics, noting that while women represent over 52% of the electorate, they hold less than 20% of parliamentary seats. He called for measures to increase female participation in power structures.