The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), expressed solidarity with presidential candidate Renan Santos, from the Missão party, who had his social media suspended and was prohibited from holding campaign events by a decision by Minister Dias Toffoli, from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). Tarcísio stated that, regardless of whether Renan makes criticism of Flaviano Bolsonaro, his political ally who is also running for the Presidential Palace, he deserves to have space to campaign.
Toffoli's decision was considered unprecedented and represented a hardening of the TSE's understanding regarding electoral propaganda. The minister suspended Renan Santos's social media and prohibited campaign events for the candidate, a more rigid measure than the fines applied in similar cases previously.
Tarcísio asked that the decision be reviewed by the TSE plenary quickly. At a press conference after visiting the works of a hospital in the São Paulo capital, the governor stated that it makes no sense to put candidates in unequal conditions and that the measure could harm the Missão candidate.
Toffoli's decision generated internal division at the TSE, since the minister chose not to take the case immediately to the full court, which caused divergences among the other members of the electoral court regarding the procedure adopted.
