Maranhão court allows Orleans Brandão to use Lula references in campaign

A legal dispute has emerged in Maranhão regarding the use of President Lula’s image by candidate Orleans Brandão (MDB). The Maranhão Regional Electoral Court (TRE-MA) recently denied a request from the Brasil Justo, Maranhão Grande coalition—composed of PSB, PT, and PSOL-Rede—to suspend electoral advertisements that referenced the President.

The coalition argued that Brandão’s campaign materials, including television spots and social media posts, improperly suggested a joint vote for both Lula and Brandão. This has caused friction within the PT, as the MDB is not part of the PT-led coalition in the state. While a previous court order required the removal of a specific Instagram post by Washington Oliveira (PT) for linking Lula and Brandão, the TRE-MA ruled that the broader campaign materials did not meet the legal requirements for immediate suspension.

Orleans Brandão has defended his campaign, stating he is “on the side of those who work” and maintains a political relationship with the President. The PT leadership in Maranhão has criticized the judicialization of the issue, arguing that Lula’s image is not the exclusive property of the PT.