Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been banned from running for office until 2030 after a court found that he abused his power and cast unfounded doubts on the country's electronic voting system.
The decision was made by a panel of judges on the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Brazil's highest electoral tribunal. The judges ruled that Bolsonaro's actions in July 2022, when he summoned ambassadors to vent unfounded claims about Brazil's electronic voting system, constituted abuse of power and misuse of the media.
The ban will prevent Bolsonaro from running in the 2024 and 2028 municipal elections, as well as the 2026 general elections. Bolsonaro is 68 years old, so he will be 75 when the ban expires in 2030.
The decision is a major blow to Bolsonaro's political career. He has been a vocal critic of Brazil's electronic voting system, and he has repeatedly made unfounded claims that the system is rigged. The TSE's ruling is a clear signal that Bolsonaro's claims are not credible.
The ban is also a victory for Brazil's democracy. It sends a message that the country's electoral system is fair and transparent, and that it will not tolerate attempts to undermine it.