The Workers' Party (PT), led by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has asked the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to urgently open an investigation into alleged funding from abroad benefiting the presidential candidacy of Flávio Bolsonaro, from the Liberal Party (PL) and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, ahead of the elections in October.
In its request to Judge Flávio Dino, the PT claims that the Federal Police investigate possible contributions from an organization associated with the right in the United States, the Rockbridge Network --co-founded by U.S. Vice President JD Vance--. The party aims to clarify whether certain businessmen acted as intermediaries to channel undeclared services and resources from abroad to Bolsonaro's campaign, circumventing Brazil's electoral regulations.
The party's statement also emphasizes the free dissemination of documentaries and courses produced by companies linked to foreign entities on the PL's platforms, something that, in its view, could amount to a concealed donation. The PT also points out an offensive of paid advertisements on the social network X aimed at reinforcing the perception of favoritism towards Bolsonaro through the shares of the betting house Polymarket, without revealing who finances those contents.
In light of these suspicions, the PT demands urgent measures to preserve contracts, files, and digital records, and warns that decisions by foreign governments or entities cannot be executed in Brazilian territory with the aim of destabilizing the presidential race.
In parallel to the action before the STF, the ruling coalition Brazil Ready for More has filed a motion before the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) requesting the annulment of Bolsonaro's candidacy, Lula's main opponent, and that of his vice-presidential candidate, Alfredo Gaspar, as well as the disqualification for eight years of Flávio Bolsonaro himself and his brother Eduardo Bolsonaro.
The coalition attributes to the Bolsonaro brothers an alleged abuse of political and economic power. It accuses them, in particular, of maneuvering with U.S. authorities to promote trade sanctions against Brazil and undermine the credibility of the electoral system, with the purpose of eroding Lula's government. In addition, it requests that a supposed offer of advantages linked to the country's critical mineral and rare earth asset be clarified in exchange for electoral support coming from abroad.