Early advertising? Former minister promotes Flávio on the streets and if he can go to the TSE

The distribution of stickers with the phrase “The Northeast is with Flávio Bolsonaro 2026” during the Carnival weekend opened a new front of legal dispute between allies of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and the PT.

The material was delivered to the public by former Minister of Tourism Gilson Machado (PL), who recorded the action in a video published on social media on Sunday (15).

In the images, Machado appears approaching revelers and pasting stickers, including on a motorcycle. The piece features the photo of senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), who is already a pre-candidate for Palácio do Planalto, alongside former president Jair Bolsonaro. In the caption of the publication, the former minister claims to be doing “little work” and says that there was a queue to sticker, mentioning the senator’s profile.

Also read

Opposition transforms wing of pro-Lula parade into digital campaign on social networks

Parliamentarians publish images of “preserved families” after school portrays conservatives in an allegory in Sapucaí

Opposition files 12 legal actions after pro-Lula parade in Rio

PL and Novo parliamentarians announce offensive on TSE, PGR and common justice

Under electoral legislation, official propaganda is only authorized after the period defined by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), normally from August of the election year. Before that, demonstrations that characterize an explicit request for voting or early campaigning may be classified as irregular propaganda, subject to fines and other sanctions.

Reaction

According to an investigation by the CNNthe PT’s legal sector is considering entering with representation in the Electoral Court against the initiative, especially due to the circulation of the material in Pernambuco. The internal analysis seeks to verify whether the message constitutes an advance vote request, which is prohibited by law.

Machado, who also presided over Embratur during the Bolsonaro government and recently announced that he will leave the PL to run for the Senate for another party, claims that he paid for the stickers with his own resources. He declared to CNN which makes the art available on its social networks “for anyone who wants to make and download it”, without using public money.

The former minister also said that he hopes that the PT will prosecute the episode and stated that he intends to present his own representation against the Acadêmicos de Niterói parade, which honored President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.