Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) ordered Alfredo Gaspar (PL-AL), the vice-presidential candidate on Senator Flavio Bolsonaro's (PL) 2026 ticket, to remove a social media video that linked President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) to organized crime. The ruling, issued by Minister Estela Aranha on Sunday, gave Gaspar 24 hours to comply.
Gaspar had shared a news report about the killing of businessman Fred Williams in Pernambuco, adding the caption: "Very serious! Organized crime has a side in the presidential election, it supports Lula. Enough impunity!" Williams was reportedly an organizer of a motorcade supporting Flavio Bolsonaro. The murder remains under investigation with no established motive.
The Workers' Party (PT) coalition petitioned the court, arguing the post constituted irregular electoral propaganda. In her decision, Minister Aranha wrote that Gaspar drew an association between the homicide, criminal organizations, and the presidential race without support in the facts presented. She noted the shared report itself stated the case was still under investigation.
The ruling emphasized that the decision does not bar debate on public security, but rather recognizes that Gaspar's caption conveyed an unfounded conclusion with potential to mislead voters and damage Lula's image, exceeding the bounds of free expression.
This marks the second time this week the Electoral Court has ordered Gaspar to delete content targeting Lula. On Saturday, Minister Marco Aurelio Bellizze ordered removal of a video in which Gaspar accused Lula of demanding 1 billion reais (roughly USD 180 million at recent rates) in bribes to allow a businessman access to federal pension funds. Bellizze ruled that publication exceeded the limits of legitimate political criticism, noting a lack of evidence for the allegations of Lula's involvement in criminal organization and serious crimes.
Poder360 contacted Gaspar on Saturday for comment on the latest ruling. As of publication, no response had been received.