TSE releases acts with a democracy theme in Rio, called by Caetano, Salvador and Porto Alegre, and rejects vetoing shows

Minister Ricardo Villas Bôas Cueva, general electoral inspector of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), released the acts scheduled for this Sunday (18), called with the aim of defending democracy. In the same decision, the rapporteur denied preventively prohibiting artistic presentations or the use of electric trios in events organized by civil and student entities.

For the judge, the ban on shows under electoral legislation prohibits the use of musical attractions to "artificially attract audiences" at official campaign rallies, but does not prevent free political expression and the engagement of artists and social movements.

"The convergence of political positions between the organizers and a given candidacy does not allow us to assume the existence of a legal, financial or organizational link that transforms civil society demonstrations into electoral campaign events," said Cueva.

This Saturday's decision was in response to a request from the Novo Party against Mídia Ninja, UNE (National Union of Students), the collective 342 Artes and Fened (National Federation of Law Students). Singer Caetano Veloso called the event in Rio de Janeiro, last Tuesday (13), for Sunday afternoon, at 4pm, at Posto 5 in Copacabana, in the south zone.

Novo maintained that the mobilizations called for the Sunday before the second round — with prominent events beyond Rio, in Salvador and Porto Alegre — would be disguised rallies and shows to promote the candidacies of Lula (PT) and Geraldo Alckmin, with alleged irregular financing by legal entities.

According to the inspector, however, so far, it is not possible to confirm the party's hypothesis. "At this procedural stage, there is no sufficient demonstration that the announced events constitute rallies or electoral meetings intended to promote the candidacy through artistic presentations, in order to justify their preventive suspension."

The call for the event occurred amid a series of mobilizations by President Lula's supporters to try to reverse the PT member's disadvantage in the race for the Presidency of the Republic. On the same date, senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) plans a demonstration on Avenida Paulista, in São Paulo, at 11 am.

The 342 Arts and Mídia Ninja collectives organize the demonstration in Rio, whose flags are the defense of democracy, freedom of artistic expression and the right to peaceful assembly. Caetano announced the call on social media this Tuesday (13).

Sunday's agenda in Rio also includes a student rally in support of Lula at 11am, in the Candelária region, in the city center. The call published on social media encourages participation in both mobilizations, traveling from Candelária to Copacabana.