Flávio Bolsonaro sings in worship and receives simulated vote request from leader of the Assembly of God

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) sang and received a simulated vote request this Saturday (10), during a service to celebrate the centenary of the Assembly of God Madureira Ministry, at the Maracanãzinho gymnasium, in the north of Rio de Janeiro.

The use of the structure and authority of a church can constitute abuse of religious power. The classification does not exist in the electoral code, but it has been used by the Electoral Court to moderate the influence of religious leaders over their faithful.

The politically charged speeches were made by Bishop Samuel Ferreira, one of the leaders of the Assembly of God. After singing and coordinating a choir in the packed gym, which, 14 times, repeated the motto "brother votes for brother", Ferreira said he was not asking for a vote. Flávio declares himself evangelical.

"If the media here says that I'm asking for a vote, they're completely wrong. I'm just saying 'brother votes for brother'. If I could ask for a vote, I would. But I don't like asking for a vote here, because they'll say that I asked for a vote. But, if I could, I would. I would ask for a vote for Flávio. Because Flávio is honest. I would ask for a vote for Flávio, because Flávio is serious," said Ferreira.

"I would ask for a vote for Flávio, because Flávio is a believer. I would ask for a vote for Flávio, because he was the one nominated by the [former] president [Jair Bolsonaro]. I would ask for a vote for Flávio, because he is full of God, but I can't ask for a vote. If I could, I would, and if anyone says I'm asking, they're wrong, because I can't ask for a vote," said Samuel Ferreira.

The bishop then stated that the church would be committed to the campaign, without directly mentioning the presidential candidate's candidacy.

"What I can say is that we are going to fight back. We are going to break the siege. This church has never established itself in anonymity", stated the leader of the denomination.

Soon afterwards, he invited Flávio to the pulpit, calling him the "future president of the Federative Republic of Brazil". The public began to shout: "It's 22!", referring to the candidate's ballot number.

"The bishop didn't ask, but the church is asking," said Flávio.

"Don't think that it's easy to leave your house every day and face, in addition to lying enemies, who try to use the devil's weapon, which is a lie, to deceive many people. And more than that, people who are dangerous. Facing them is not easy. And, more than that, facing this spiritual war that Brazil is going through at the moment is not easy", said the senator.

At the end of his speech, Flávio sang the song "Hino da Vitória" alongside gospel singer Meire Cerqueira.

Bishop Silas Malafaia was present, but during the period in which the press was there, he did not make a speech with a political content. The elected governor of Rio de Janeiro, Douglas Ruas (PL), also attended the ceremony.

Samuel Ferreira also spoke of missing former president Jair Bolsonaro and lamented his arrest.

"We wanted to say hi. We wanted to blow him a kiss. What country is this? Where are we? It hurts. But it hurts a lot. Because we have and respect the law, even if we disagree with it. But we will die respecting it", said the bishop.

The expression "brother votes for brother" was coined in the title of the book by Josué Sylvestre, a parliamentary advisor linked to another Assembly, cited by Samuel Ferreira in his preaching.