Brazilian courts eyeing record number of election observers

The Superior Electoral Court has a goal of bringing roughly 100 international observers to attend the 2022 elections, an unprecedented number that is around three times more than four years ago. 

The court recently invited observers from the European Union, but backed down after a negative reaction from the government — which claimed Brazil cannot allow its electoral process to be scrutinized by bodies it is not a part of.

The push is a reaction to President Jair Bolsonaro’s constant threats to disregard the election results if he fails to win re-election. Justices hope that a network of international organizations attesting to the security of the system will deter Mr. Bolsonaro from calling foul play.

But there is no indication that the strategy will work. Just yesterday, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the president’s eldest son, told a TV station that if there is any “doubt” around the results, the far-right president would react — and not through the courts. “It is possible that there will be political instability in the country,” Flávio Bolsonaro said.

Several organizations have already confirmed their presence at the 2022 elections, such as the Organization of American States, the Mercosur Parliament, and the Commonwealth of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), among others.

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