The senator (PT-AP) canceled the pre-candidacy event, this Thursday (11), in , after determination by the TRE (Regional Electoral Court) of . The parliamentarian himself informed the public gathered on the city’s waterfront about the decision.
“Here we complied with a court decision. There was a representation organized by our opposition, and as a result of this representation, we contacted the Regional Electoral Court”, said Randolfe, in an interview, after announcing the suspension of the event.
The Electoral Attorney’s Office in Amapá had requested the measure stating that it was early electoral propaganda, due to the use of a “large structure, incompatible with the restrictions of the pre-campaign period”.
According to the senator, the event was organized by the party and should soon mobilize “a bigger party” and with “even more people”. He thanked the participants for attending the event.
“A judicial decision is not discussed, it is complied with. That’s what we did here. And I had, I could not allow this decision to be pronounced over the microphone by the master of ceremonies or anyone else”, added the senator.
In addition to requesting the suspension of the event, the Public Electoral Ministry had presented, on Tuesday (9), to TRE-AP, a representation by , after he promoted, on Saturday (6), a vehicle sticker event and distribution of promotional materials related to the launch of his pre-candidacy in the capital of Amapá.
The Prosecutor’s Office asked TRE-AP to recognize the senator’s practice of early electoral propaganda. He also requested the imposition of a fine of R$25,000, considering the severity and extent of the conduct highlighted.
The leader of the Lula (PT) government stated, in a statement, that the activity was “a legal and legitimate pre-campaign mobilization promoted by the Amapá Workers’ Party to launch the pre-candidacy”.
The action, according to the representation, was widely publicized on the senator’s social networks, who made prior invitations to the population and published records of the event.
The publications show the use of standardized stickers, flags containing the parliamentarian’s name and image, distribution of leaflets and reproduction of jingles, elements that, according to the representation, characterize early electoral propaganda.
For the Public Electoral Ministry, the senator’s event went beyond the limits of publicity allowed to pre-candidates by legislation, with broad visual exposure of the pre-candidacy and the potential to reach voters through direct approaches, vehicle stickers, leafleting and display of campaign material in a public place.
According to electoral legislation, candidates can only promote campaign actions from August onwards. Failure to comply with this rule may result in the imposition of a fine ranging from R$5,000 to R$25,000, or an amount equivalent to the cost of advertising, if higher.
