Judge finds that the candidate abused his political power during the electoral campaign; he is seeking re-election
THE Electoral Justice of São Paulo revoked this Thursday (19.Sep.2024) the registration of the candidacy of the mayor of Campinas (SP) and candidate for reelection, Darius Saadi (Republicans). The judge of the 275th Electoral Zone, Paulo César Batista dos Santos, considered that he committed abuse of political power during the campaign.
The decision was favorable to the coalition’s action that the federal deputy has Pedro Tourinho (PT-SP) as a candidate for mayor of the city of São Paulo. “Real Change” (PT, PC do B, PV, Psol and Rede) stated that Saadi recorded campaign videos in places restricted to public officials. Appeal is possible. Read the full decision (PDF – 64 kB).
The judge understood that the mayor used his position of authority to use public assets and resources in electoral campaign events held from August 16 to 25, 2024. For Batista dos Santos, Dário Saadi’s actions caused an imbalance in the election.
“In fact, now, in exhaustive cognition, I find that there was indeed the use of public equipment (buildings and facilities) and government agents for electoral purposes, with the use of the prerogatives inherent to the elective office held, which causes the prohibition provided for in art. 73, I, Law 9,504/1997 reproduced above to apply.”he stated.
WHAT THE MAYOR SAYS
In note (read the full text below)Dário Saadi said he received the decision “with indignation” and regretted “that the PT appeals to the courts to try to go against the largely majority will of the people of Campinas”. He further stated that “nothing interferes with the campaign”.
“Dário is once again the victim of an abuse of the electoral dispute. And, therefore, he relies on the impartiality of the Justice system to prove the legality of his actions. The PT’s attempt to change the course of the election in Campinas will be blocked by the vote of the people of Campinas, who will confirm the name of Dário Saadi on October 6th.”
ELECTORAL RACE
Research released by Quaest on Wednesday (18.Sep) shows Dário Saadi leading with 46% of voting intentions in the race for Mayor of Campinas.
Next is state deputy Rafa Zimbladi (Cidadania), with 16%. Tourinho appears in 3rd place, with 13% of the votes. The 2 candidates are technically tied within the margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The survey was conducted by Paraná Pesquisas from September 15 to 17, 2024. 900 voters were interviewed in Campinas (SP). The confidence interval is 95%. The margin of error is 3 percentage points. The survey is registered with the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) under number SP-06150/2024. It cost R$85,050. The amount was paid by EPTV Campinasaffiliated with TV Globo.
Read the full note from Dário Saadi:
“The decision of the first instance of the Court to accept a request from the PT to block the candidacy of Dário Saadi due to the publication of three posts on the internet, does not interfere in any way with Dário’s campaign. The electoral law itself guarantees the regular maintenance of the campaign, by suspending any effect of the decision, until all appeals have been exhausted.
“Dário Saadi’s campaign is outraged by the decision and regrets that the PT is appealing to the courts to try to go against the overwhelming majority will of the people of Campinas. The opposition’s strategy is the same as it was four years ago. In 2020, they tried to block Dário in court because he had provided free medical care. But the final decision was clear: Dário has always been correct and has not committed any electoral crime, much less any abuse. Now, history is repeating itself. The PT is trying to disrupt the election in Campinas. This is yet another desperate attempt to hold back Dário’s growth, one day after the poll showed that the people of Campinas want Dário reelected in the first round.
“Dário is once again the victim of an abuse of the electoral dispute. And, therefore, he relies on the impartiality of the Justice system to prove the legality of his actions. The PT’s attempt to change the course of the election in Campinas will be blocked by the vote of the people of Campinas, who will confirm the name of Dário Saadi on October 6th.”
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