The Electoral Court has declared ineligible for eight years the mayoral candidate of Nova Iguaçu, Clébio Lopes Pereira (União), known as Jacaré, and the city council candidate Marcelo Fernandes Loureiro (União), known as 'Marcelinho das Crianças', after concluding that both used money irregularly to attract voters during the 2024 campaign.
The decision was made by the 156th Electoral Zone, in Nova Iguaçu, in an Electoral Judicial Investigation Action (AIJE) filed against the candidates by the elected mayor, Dudu Reina (PP), and the party coalition that supported him.
According to the indictment, the campaign activities of Clébio Jacaré and Marcelinho das Crianças that led to their conviction focused on activities for children and families, including free "train" rides, parties at children's event venues, and the distribution of toys and gifts. The court ruled that these actions exceeded the limits of a regular campaign and were used to influence the electorate.
The two politicians were accused of promoting unpaid campaign activities for electoral purposes. During the trial, both denied any wrongdoing, but the evidence gathered was considered sufficient to prove the practice.
Among the main elements analyzed are videos, photos, and social media posts from the candidates themselves. According to the ruling, the material shows the events taking place, the direct participation of Clébio Jacaré and Marcelinho, and the connection of these actions to the campaign. For the judge, the quantity of evidence made the facts clear.
One of the highlighted episodes occurred in August 2024, when small flags were distributed that mixed campaign elements with references to the children's universe, including the candidate's ballot number and images associated with popular children's games. The assessment was that this type of approach reinforced the link between the benefits offered and political promotion.
The decision also indicates that the two candidates acted together. Records show both of them present at the same events, suggesting a coordinated strategy to broaden the reach of their campaigns and strengthen their candidacies.
According to the Electoral Court, the problem lies not only in holding events, but also in using resources to offer direct advantages to voters, such as free leisure activities and gifts, which compromises the equality of the election. The understanding is that this type of practice interferes with the freedom of choice in voting.
The judge further emphasized that it is not necessary to prove that the actions altered the election result, since Clébio Jacaré and Marcelinho das Crianças were not elected. What mattered was the seriousness of the conduct and its impact on the integrity of the electoral process.
As a result, both candidates were penalized with an eight-year ban from holding office. The decision can still be appealed to higher courts, such as the Regional Electoral Court of Rio de Janeiro (TRE-RJ) and the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).
Clébio Jacaré ran for mayor of Nova Iguaçu under judicial review, because his candidacy was deemed ineligible. because it was rejected due to problems with the documentation, especially the criminal record certificates.He received 56.239 votes.14,38Marcelinho das Crianças received 1.749 votes and became an alternate representative for União Brasil in the City Council.
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