BRASILIA, Aug 17 Anderson Torres, Brazil’s former Minister of Justice and Public Security under ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, has been formally charged with blocking voters in an opposition stronghold during the 2022 presidential election, sources confirmed on Friday.
Torres, along with Silvinei Vasques, the former chief of Brazil’s Federal Highway Police, and four other individuals, faces accusations of political violence. The charges allege that they acted to obstruct voter access in the northeast of Brazil, a region known for its strong support of current President Luiz InĆ”cio Lula da Silva.
On the day of the runoff election, which saw Lula narrowly defeat Bolsonaro, there were numerous reports of roadblocks in the northeast. These actions were suspected to be a strategy to suppress the vote in areas historically supportive of Lula, potentially skewing the election results in favor of Bolsonaro.
The allegations of voter suppression have intensified scrutiny of the actions of law enforcement and political figures in the aftermath of the election. Torres and Vasques had previously been detained for their involvement in a January 2023 attack on Brazilās Supreme Court, Congress, and the presidential palace by right-wing protesters contesting the election outcome. Additionally, Bolsonaro was barred from holding office until 2030 for propagating election misinformation.
In response to the latest charges, Torres’ legal team has declined to comment until they have reviewed the police decision. Meanwhile, Vasques’ defense has expressed confidence that the charges against him are unfounded and do not align with the legal statutes cited.
The unfolding case underscores the ongoing political turbulence in Brazil and the contentious environment surrounding the 2022 presidential election.