Rio de Janeiro police investigate woman for Nazi salute at polling station

Rio de Janeiro Civil Police have identified 46-year-old Érica Marques Pinho as the woman filmed performing a Nazi-style salute while leaving a polling station in Botafogo during the 2026 presidential elections. The incident, recorded at Colégio Santo Inácio, has been registered as an investigation into injury by prejudice.

In video footage, Pinho is seen wearing a Brazilian national team jersey and a red 'MAGA' hat. Her defense attorney, Marcello Ramalho, stated that the gesture occurred during a heated argument with supporters of President Lula and was a reaction to provocations. The defense maintains that there was no intention to offend the Jewish community or disparage any religious identity, and Pinho has issued an apology.

The Israelite Federation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Fierj) issued a note of repudiation, condemning the act of hate and warning against the normalization of antisemitism. Under Brazilian law, the apology of Nazism can carry penalties of two to five years in prison.