Politics · Brazil · 9 hrs ago
Brazil election court divided over order to remove Lula-supporting WhatsApp channel
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court is dealing with a dispute over a WhatsApp channel created by federal lawmaker André Janones.
The channel, called “Exército do Lula,” had 3.2 million subscribers.
Judge Kassio Nunes Marques ordered it taken down after saying it spread claims that electoral authorities had already disproved.
The order followed a request from Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign.
Judge Ricardo Villas Bôas Cueva then suspended the order and restored the channel while asking the parties to respond.
The case involves separate judicial and administrative proceedings, which follow different rules.
The dispute has reportedly caused discomfort and distrust among judges, and they are expected to resolve the case as soon as possible.
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court is divided after Justice Kassio Nunes Marques ordered the removal of a WhatsApp channel supporting Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The channel, “Exército do Lula,” was created by federal deputy André Janones and had 3.2 million subscribers.
Electoral Court Inspector Ricardo Villas Boas Cueva later suspended the removal order and restored the channel.
Nunes Marques said the channel spread information that had already been rejected by the electoral court.
The dispute has raised concerns inside the court about legal uncertainty and distrust among justices.
- Who
- TSE justices Kassio Nunes Marques and Ricardo Villas Boas Cueva took opposing actions. The channel was created by federal deputy André Janones.
- What
- Nunes Marques ordered the WhatsApp channel “Exército do Lula” removed; Cueva suspended that order and restored the channel.
- When
- The removal order was issued on Sunday (11), after Cueva’s Saturday (10) request for the parties to respond.
- Where
- Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court and WhatsApp.
- Why
- Nunes Marques said the channel spread information already rejected by the Electoral Court. The article says Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign had requested action concerning the channel.
Kassio Nunes Marques
Ricardo Villas Boas Cueva
Channel content
Kassio Nunes Marques
Nunes Marques said the channel spread information already rejected by the Electoral Court, including claims linking Flávio Bolsonaro to a militia.
Ricardo Villas Boas Cueva
Cueva suspended Nunes Marques’s order and restored the channel; the article does not state his reason.
Procedure
Kassio Nunes Marques
Nunes Marques ordered the channel’s removal through an administrative process.
Ricardo Villas Boas Cueva
Cueva had requested that the parties respond to the case before Nunes Marques issued his order.
Cueva requested that the parties respond regarding Janones’s WhatsApp channel.
Nunes Marques ordered the channel removed through an administrative process.
Cueva suspended Nunes Marques’s decision and restored the channel.
- Channel
- Exército do Lula
- Subscribers
- 3.2 million
- Creator
- André Janones, federal deputy
- Order
- Kassio Nunes Marques ordered the channel removed
- Suspension
- Ricardo Villas Boas Cueva restored the channel
What people are saying
The atmosphere is one of discomfort and distrust after Justice Kassio Nunes Marques’s decision.
The minister, the president of the TSE, anticipates a decision that his colleague was already going to make. Obviously, we do not know what decision he was going to make, but the case was already under his jurisdiction and was already in progress.
Sources
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