TSE judge rejects charge of illegal campaigning against Lula and Dilma

A substitute judge at the Federal Election Court (TSE), Aldir Passarinho Junior, has rejected a lawsuit filed by opposition parties accusing president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his Chief of Staff (ministra-chefe da Casa Civil) Dilma Rousseff of illegal campaigning. The TSE has very strict rules on this: campaigning for the October general elections begins on July 5, not a moment before.

In the suit, the DEM, PSDB and PPS cited remarks Lula made at an inauguration of a university campus in Teofilo Otoni, in the state of Minas Gerais, in February. The president called Dilma his “candidate in fact” and said he would elect his successor “to ensure that what is being done continues. Because this country cannot go backwards. This country cannot move backwards like a crab…”

In a written opinion, the judge said there was no request for votes and the president’s speech did not characterize the minister (Dilma) as a candidate. “Her name was not cited, or was anything said about her work, what she has done, what she might do…” The judge added that being present at inaugurations was part of the job of being a minister.