Brazil Regional Courts Uphold Gender-Quota Fraud Rulings, Shifting Councils in Fortaleza and Manaquiri

Overview

• The Ceará regional court published its ruling confirming the cassation of Fortaleza councilor Luiz Paupina and voiding all Agir votes from the 2024 municipal race.
• Judges found Agir used fictitious female candidacies, citing near-zero votes, lack of campaigning, no self-votes in candidates’ own sections, and absent or minimal finances.
• In Amazonas, the regional court maintained the cassation of six of Manaquiri’s eleven councilors, elected by PSD and PL, after finding sham candidacies used to meet the quota.
• With PSD and PL votes annulled in Manaquiri and Agir’s votes voided in Fortaleza, electoral authorities will retotalize results to reallocate council seats.
• Related rulings in Ceará also upheld penalties in Farias Brito, annulling MDB’s votes, removing three councilors, and declaring candidate Expedita Alves Feitosa ineligible for eight years, as parties pursue appeals to higher courts.