Commercials from Petrobras, MEC, and ANS are suspended by the TSE.
Minister Tarcisio Vieira, of the Superior Electoral Court, ruled that, due to the start of the election campaign, the federal government is prohibited from disseminating institutional advertising from any public administration body; Vieira granted a request from the PSDB party, led by Aécio Neves.
André Richter – Reporter for Agência Brasil
Minister Tarcisio Vieira, of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), ordered the suspension of institutional advertisements from the Ministry of Education, the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), and Petrobras. The minister understood that, due to the start of the election campaign, the federal government is prohibited from broadcasting institutional advertising from any public administration body.
Vieira granted the injunction requested by the "Change Brazil" Coalition, representing presidential candidate Aécio Neves (PSDB). According to the coalition, the Electoral Law prohibits the airing of government advertisements in the three months preceding elections.
"Without making a value judgment on the content of the advertisements, whether they are lawful government actions or premature propaganda, I must unquestionably conclude that, from July 5th onwards, at least, within the scope of what has been conventionally called the critical period, there is, as a rule, no place for typical institutional advertising," the minister decided.
Since Saturday (5), with the end of the deadline for registering candidacies for the October elections, restrictions on public officials have increased. Government officials are prohibited from authorizing institutional advertising of federal and state administration programs and works. Broadcasts on radio and TV can only be made in case of an urgent matter or public calamity, a situation that must be assessed by the Electoral Court.
Candidates for any office in the October elections are also prohibited from attending the inauguration of public works. The law also prevents public officials from making appointments, hirings, or dismissals of public servants until the elected officials take office on January 1, 2015. In the case of public service examinations, those who passed may be appointed if the examination has been officially approved by July 5th.
Agência Brasil contacted the Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency of the Republic, but had not received a response by the time of publication.