PRE files a complaint against "dirty" candidates.

Candidates who flooded the streets of municipalities in Tocantins with campaign flyers, pamphlets, and other campaign materials are under investigation by the state's Regional Electoral Prosecutor's Office. The PRE, headed by prosecutor Álvaro Manzano, filed 41 complaints against these "dirty" candidates with the Electoral Court this Friday, the 10th. According to the PRE, this illegal practice affected not only the fairness of the election but also urban hygiene and aesthetics, a fact confirmed by PRE officials who visited the locations. A single printed piece of material from each candidate was collected as evidence, and photographs and videos were also taken. See who they are.

October 10, 2014, 18:14 PMUpdated May 27, 2019, 11:05 AM

Candidates who flooded the streets of municipalities in Tocantins with campaign flyers, pamphlets, and other campaign materials are under investigation by the state's Regional Electoral Prosecutor's Office; the PRE, headed by prosecutor Álvaro Manzano, filed 41 complaints against the "dirty" candidates this Friday, the 10th, with the Electoral Court; according to the PRE, this illegal practice affected not only the fairness of the election but also urban hygiene and aesthetics, as confirmed by PRE officials who visited the locations; a single printed piece of material from each candidate was collected as evidence, in addition to photographs and videos being taken; see who they are (Photo: Aquiles Lins)

Tocantins 247 - The Regional Electoral Prosecutor's Office (PRE) in Tocantins filed 41 electoral complaints this Friday, the 10th, against candidates who deliberately violated Law 9.504/97 (Electoral Law) by carrying out the practice known as "dawn flight" and scattering printed electoral propaganda material – pamphlets, flyers, and other leaflets – near the main polling places in Palmas, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, the 5th, the day of the election.

According to ministerial representations, the illegal practice affected not only the fairness of the election but also urban hygiene and aesthetics, as confirmed by PRE (Regional Electoral Prosecutor's Office) officials who were present at the locations. Upon certifying the events with public faith, they also collected one printed copy of material from each candidate as evidence, in addition to taking photographs and videos.

The complaints highlight Article 39, paragraph 5, item III, of Law No. 9.504/97, which deals with illicit conduct in election campaigns and defines as a crime the dissemination, on election day, of any kind of propaganda for political parties or their candidates. The propaganda carried out on election day is premature, and although the leaflets were not delivered directly to voters, they were scattered so that they could be used on election day, which also constitutes the practice of electioneering at the polling place.

"Candidates who used this practice for their own benefit, ordering the dumping of hundreds of papers in public places, producing a large amount of waste, in addition to committing an electoral offense, also violated Law 6.938/91 (National Environmental Policy) and Law 12.305/10 (National Solid Waste Policy). Because they have control over their respective campaign materials, the candidates are responsible for their possession, safekeeping, distribution, and subsequent cleaning and final disposal of the waste generated," says the PRE (Regional Electoral Prosecutor's Office).

In requesting that the 41 candidates be ordered to pay the fine stipulated in article 36, paragraph 3, combined with article 39, paragraph 9, of Law No. 9.504/97, the PRE/TO (Regional Electoral Prosecutor's Office of Tocantins) emphasizes that the law must be enforced and applied to offenders regardless of whether the candidate won the election or not. This action is considered necessary to curb the practice of littering public roads and violating the law regarding the prohibition of electoral campaigning on election days.

The candidates for state representative represented were: Bruno Ayres (PR), Jucelino Rodrigues (PTC), Osires Damaso (DEM), Alan Barbiero (PSB), Mauro Carlesse (PTB), Olyntho Neto (PSDB), Lucio Campelo (PR), Wesley das Vans (PTC), Nilton Franco (PMDB), Joaquim Maia (PV), Luana Ribeiro (PR), Major Negreiros (PP), Edilma Vieira (PT), Eduardo Siqueira Campos (PTB), Diogo Fernandes (PSD), Eli Borges (Pros), Eduardo do Dertins (PPS), Wanderlei Barbosa (SD), Pastor Adalberto (PSC), Idelmar Miranda (PDT), Ivory de Lira (PDT), Divino Betânia (Pros), Valdison da Agesp (PT), Ubaldo Tenorio (PRP) and Solange Duailibe (SD).

Candidates for federal deputy represented: Freire Junior (PV), Tiago Andrino (PP), Freitas do PT (PT), Josi Nunes (PMDB), Cesar Halum (PRB), João Ribeiro Junior (PRTB), João Campos (PSC), Dulce Miranda (PMDB), Carlos Gaguim (PMDB), João Oliveira (DEM), Beto Lima (PR).

Candidate for senator: Sergeant Aragão (Pros)

Candidates for governor: Eula Angelim (Psol), Ataídes Oliveira (Pros) and Sandoval Cardoso (SD).

(With information from PRE)