Court fines Brazil’s Lula over anti-Bolsonaro campaign video

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva beat far-right rival Jair Bolsonaro in October 2022 elections – Copyright AFP/File EVARISTO SA

Brazil’s highest electoral court has fined President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his coalition nearly $48,000 over a campaign video slamming his 2022 election rival, Jair Bolsonaro.

The TSE tribunal upheld a claim by the far-right politician, who lost the race to leftist Lula, over online “promotion of negative electoral propaganda,” according to a ruling seen by AFP Tuesday.

The judges issued a fine of 250,000 reais.

Under Brazilian electoral law, candidates are allowed to pay to boost the visibility of online videos — but not if the content is critical of an adversary.

During a deeply divisive campaign, Lula and his leftist coalition promoted a video on YouTube that compiled some of Bolsonaro’s more controversial statements and described him as “incompetent,” a “liar” and “inhumane.”

Mid-campaign, a court had ordered that the video be withdrawn.

The TSE last year declared Bolsonaro ineligible to hold public office until 2030 for disseminating false information about Brazil’s electoral system.