The president of TRE-SP (Regional Electoral Court), told journalists this Friday (27), the date of his solemn inauguration into office, that society has the right to disagree with the use of electronic voting machines, as long as it respects the law.
“The Regional Electoral Court remains confident in electronic voting machines, which have been implemented for 30 years. During this period, no irregularity has ever been demonstrated that could achieve what we aim for: which is the truth of the voting machines”, he said.
The judge added that the court “remains confident and understands that society may disagree with a service, with a stance, it may disagree. We are in a democratic country. What is fundamental is that institutions are respected and that, in accordance with the law, there may be any disagreements expressed. But we remain safe.”
This Friday, Manfré’s solemn inauguration ceremony as president of TRE-SP took place, held at the headquarters of the TJ-SP (Court of Justice of the State of São Paulo), in the center of the capital of São Paulo, with the presence of the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), and the mayor of the capital of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes (MDB).
Formally, he has held the position of president of the São Paulo electoral court since the end of December, when the election ended.
Shortly before the event, the judge met with journalists and answered questions. At the time, the judge was asked about what showed that just over half of Brazilians (53%) trust electronic voting machines. According to the survey, another 43% say they do not trust the equipment.
Manfré is the 50th president of TRE-SP. He is the one who will be in charge of the São Paulo electoral court in these general elections. The expectation is that more than 33 million people will go to the polls in October across the state of São Paulo.
According to him, the main concern this year is for transparency and ethics in the election. He also stated that the court has looked into and is attentive to organized crime, whose impact on the electoral process has gained momentum in recent years.
The magistrate spoke about curbing the infiltration of crime, but avoided commenting on a ban, in 2024, and (Superior Electoral Court) on candidates accused of links to crime.
Asked if he fears a new candidate like Pablo Marçal, who ran for the position of mayor of São Paulo in the 2024 elections and was declared ineligible for his conduct in that campaign, Manfré stated that he is not afraid of the candidate.
“We are not afraid of anyone, whether A, B, C, D, E,” he said. “We want to comply with the law, comply with jurisprudence. We want society to be enlightened. That is our objective. The Electoral Court has no candidate. For it, there is no ideal candidate, ideal candidate, or in the opposite direction. What it wants is to provide services for the enlightenment of society.”
Manfré started as a judge in 1985, appointed as a substitute in Araçatuba (SP). In 1998, a Court was created in the capital. He became a judge at the TJ-SP in 2012. His term as president of the TRE-SP runs until December 2027.
