Brazil electoral court orders arrest of Salvador mobility secretary over bus fleet cut
The regional electoral court ordered the immediate arrest of Salvador's mobility secretary Pablo Souza for reducing the city’s bus fleet on runoff day, prompting federal police action.
On Brazil's presidential runoff, the regional electoral court ordered the arrest of Pablo Souza, Salvador's municipal secretary of Mobility, accusing him of slashing the city's bus fleet by over 50 percent, which impeded voter transport. Federal police are tasked with executing the arrest. The court also mandated that concession companies immediately reinstate the full fleet and offer free rides until voting concludes and voters can return home.
Bahia's governor, reacting to complaints of transport shortages, sent police officers to operate buses and condemned the alleged voter suppression. The governor's intervention follows a complaint by the Federação Brasil da Esperança, a PT-affiliated group, which reported the fleet reduction. Salvador's mayor, Bruno Reis of União Brasil, has declared support for Flávio Bolsonaro in the second round, while the state remains a traditional stronghold for Lula, who secured millions of votes in the first round. The incident echoes 2022 Federal Highway Police operations that were investigated for targeting regions favorable to Lula.
Why it matters
It highlights alleged voter-access interference in a pivotal swing region during Brazil's presidential runoff.
How this story developed
- Oct 4 Portugal sees alcohol dependence surge while Brazil heads to tightly contested election
- Oct 10 President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign says Meta restricted his content on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp as the presidential runoff approaches.
- Oct 13 Senator Flavio Bolsonaro announced he will vote for a constitutional amendment that cuts Brazil’s standard workweek from 44 to 40 hours, reversing his party’s previous opposition.
- Oct 16 Senate ratified the constitutional amendment following Senator Flavio Bolsonaro’s earlier announcement of support.
- Oct 16 A new Datafolha poll released Thursday shows Bolsonaro maintaining a narrow lead over Lula within the margin of error.
- Oct 19 The first televised debate between the two candidates was held a week before the runoff.
- Oct 20 Lula’s closing remarks were interrupted when the moderator announced he had run out of time.
- Oct 20 The court increased the daily penalty on Meta.
- Oct 22 Meta was ordered to demonstrate compliance with equal‑treatment rules within 24 hours.
- Oct 23 Most recent polls place Senator Flávio Bolsonaro ahead of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as Brazil prepares for the October 25 runoff.
- Oct 24 Justice André Mendonça ruled that each candidate may obtain the other’s financial, tax and phone records.
- Oct 25 A Datafolha poll released on October 22 gave Flávio Bolsonaro 47% and Lula 46%, a one‑point margin.
- Oct 25 Voters went to the polls on Sunday for the runoff.
- Oct 25 Voting opened across Brazil on Sunday.
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