Political drama in Brazil has reached a boiling point ahead of the closely contested October 25 runoff election, with both presidential candidates aggressively moving to disqualify their rivals over alleged digital interference. The escalating legal battles highlight a deeply polarized political landscape and fierce competition for the highest office.

Right-wing candidate Flavio Bolsonaro has formally petitioned the Superior Electoral Court to annul the candidacy of incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. According to filings submitted by Bolsonaro’s legal team, the Lula administration allegedly abused its power by orchestrating mass messaging campaigns via WhatsApp to promote government programs and benefits during the restricted campaign window. The petition seeks to ban both Lula and Social Communications Minister Sidonio Palmeira from holding public office for eight years.

Meanwhile, the opposing camp announced plans to seek Bolsonaro’s disqualification, targeting alleged electoral interference by tech giant Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp. Sources within Lula’s campaign claim that Meta purportedly engaged in algorithmic manipulation designed to sabotage his electoral prospects. The electoral court had previously pressured Meta with hefty daily fines to ensure neutral treatment of both campaigns, prompting the tech conglomerate to claim compliance with regulatory demands.

The high-stakes confrontation follows an initial round of voting earlier this month where Bolsonaro edged out the incumbent with 47 percent to 45 percent. Recent public opinion polls suggest a razor-thin margin separating the two contenders as the decisive Sunday showdown approaches.

Source: www.aljazeera.com