The Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo (TRE-SP) ruled, by 3 votes to 2, to revoke the mandates of the mayor of Barueri, Beto Piteri (Republicans), and Deputy Mayor, Dr. Claudia (PSB). The decision was made on Tuesday (8) and is still appealed to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).
The conviction occurred for misuse of the media during the election campaign. The decision also hit the former mayor of the city, Rubens Furlan (PSB), who was considered ineligible for eight years, as well as Piteri.
The case involves the release of Videos driven by Furlan on his social networks in support of Piteri’s candidacy. According to the process, the videos reached 12.9 million views – number more than 40 times higher than the city’s total voters.
In making his vote, the electoral judge Maria Claudia Bedotti stated that the boosting content was out of date campaign accounts compromised the parity of weapons among the candidates.
“The set of evidence clearly demonstrates the reiterated broadcast of driven electoral propaganda, both for the benefit of the defendants and to the detriment of their opponent, with massive and disproportionate range,” said the magistrate.
In a divergent vote, Judge Cotrim Guimarães argued that Piteri was only marked in the publications made by Furlan, not being directly responsible for them. For him, there is a lack of clarity in the electoral legislation regarding this type of practice.
Continues after advertising
Judge Encinas Manfré disagreed. He pointed out that there were 94 publications with markings to Piteri, and that the candidate was notified of each of them.
“It was not six, ten or twenty, but almost one hundred illegal publications. He was fully aware and could have adopted steps to remove markings, which did not occur, even in the face of the repetition of conduct,” said Manfré.
The action was filed by the coalition here has Barueri – formed by União Brasil, PP, PL, PRD, PRTB, mobilizes, act, PSD, Avante and PDT – and the Municipal Directory of União Brasil.
