“I consider partially admissible the request to sentence (…) Jair Messias Bolsonaro for the practice of abuse of political power and misuse of the media in the 2022 elections,” said Gonçalves at the second session of the trial held in the Superior Electoral Court.

The decision was made “due to (Bolsonaro’s) direct and personal responsibility for the illegal conduct practiced for the benefit of his reelection candidacy. I declare his disqualification for eight years after the 2022 elections,” Gonçalves ruled.

The magistrate considered that there was a deviation of purpose in the use of the “symbolic power of the president and the position of the head of state to degrade the electoral environment.”

In the vote, Gonçalves affirmed that Bolsonaro influenced the electorate, mobilized “negative feelings”, fueled institutional tensions and “instigated the belief that the falsification of results was a threat that was surrounding the 2022 lawsuit.” “It is not possible to close one’s eyes to the anti-democratic effects of violent speeches and lies that jeopardize the credibility of the electoral Justice,” said the judge during his reading.

The June 29th session was reserved for the trial against Bolsonaro, and the defense stated that it wishes to appeal the court’s decision.

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