In short
- Three Supreme Federal Court justices issued contradictory rulings in September on posts about a false claim that candidate Flávio Bolsonaro backed stripping Our Lady of Aparecida of her title as Brazil’s patron saint.
- The claim rests on a bill introduced in 2007 by an evangelical deputy, which was shelved the following year; Bolsonaro, a Liberal Party senator and an evangelical, denied supporting it.
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Monday at a rally in Belém that no one would dishonour Our Lady of Aparecida while he is president.
- A Quaest poll published on Monday gave Lula 39% and Flávio Bolsonaro 34% in the first round, and a 42% tie in a prospective 25 October runoff.
- Brazil’s first-round presidential vote is scheduled for Sunday, 4 October, with a debate on TV Globo planned for Thursday.
A false claim that Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro backed stripping Our Lady of Aparecida of her title as patron saint of Brazil has produced contradictory rulings from three Supreme Federal Court justices and a public dispute with the country’s Catholic bishops in the final week of campaigning before Sunday’s vote.
What did the Supreme Federal Court justices decide?
Justice André Mendonça ordered the removal of a post by comedian Antonio Tabet that, without naming the candidate, associated his family with a supposed attack on the patron saint. Justice Flávio Dino suspended that order on Sunday and restored the content. Justice Luiz Fux then ordered its removal again, and the case went to the full court. The Superior Electoral Court had also ordered posts on the subject taken down.
Where did the false claim about Our Lady of Aparecida come from?
The claim rests on a bill introduced in 2007 by an evangelical deputy, which was shelved the following year. Flávio Bolsonaro, a Liberal Party senator and an evangelical, denied supporting any such initiative and released several videos to that effect. “It is the biggest fake news of this campaign,” he said.
What did Lula da Silva and the bishops say?
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is seeking a fourth term on 4 October against Flávio Bolsonaro, said on Monday at a rally in Belém: “As long as I am president of the Republic, no one will dishonour Our Lady of Aparecida,” and called for respect for all religions, including those of African origin. His running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and other allied candidates released messages aimed at Catholic voters.
Bolsonaro accused members of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil of helping the Workers’ Party spread the falsehood. The body denied it in a note stating that “a lie is not fought with another lie”. The candidate later said the text confirmed the report was false and thanked the bishops.
Has this happened before in Brazilian election campaigns?
Folha de S.Paulo columnist Hélio Schwartsman recalled that in 2018 a claim circulated that Workers’ Party candidate Fernando Haddad would distribute material on sexual diversity in schools, and in 2022 that Lula would close churches. In both cases the party went to the electoral courts to have the material removed. “Campaigns do not hesitate to embrace the fake news that favours them,” he wrote.
What do the polls say before the vote?
The Quaest poll published on Monday gave Lula 39% and Flávio Bolsonaro 34% in the first round, and a 42% tie in a prospective 25 October runoff. The only debate planned with both candidates would take place on Thursday on TV Globo; Bolsonaro confirmed his attendance and Lula had not formally responded.
Frequently asked questions
What was the false claim about Brazil’s patron saint?
A false report circulated that presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro supported stripping Our Lady of Aparecida of her title as Brazil’s patron saint. It rested on a bill introduced in 2007 by an evangelical deputy that was shelved the following year, and Bolsonaro denied supporting it.
Why did three Supreme Federal Court justices issue different rulings?
Justice André Mendonça ordered a comedian’s post removed, Justice Flávio Dino suspended that order on Sunday and restored the content, and Justice Luiz Fux ordered its removal again. The case went to the full court.
When is Brazil’s first-round presidential vote?
The first round was scheduled for Sunday, 4 October, with a Quaest poll published on Monday giving Lula 39% and Flávio Bolsonaro 34%, and a 42% tie in a prospective 25 October runoff.
What has Lula said about Our Lady of Aparecida?
At a rally in Belém on Monday, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said: “As long as I am president of the Republic, no one will dishonour Our Lady of Aparecida,” and called for respect for all religions.
With reporting from en.mercopress.com.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
