The Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo (TRE-SP) denied appeals from Pablo Marçal, upholding a ruling that renders him ineligible for office until 2032 [1].

The decision effectively bars Marçal from participating in Brazilian elections for several years. It signals a strict judicial stance on the use of digital influence and paid promotion in municipal campaigns.

The court issued the decision on Friday, Aug. 21 [1]. The ruling maintains a fine of R$ 420,000 [2] against the politician, who previously ran as a candidate for the PRTB and later joined União Brasil.

According to court records, the ineligibility spans eight years from the 2024 municipal election [1]. The judiciary found that Marçal used media outlets and paid influencers to illicitly promote his campaign during that period [2].

These actions were classified by the court as a misuse of communication means and illegal fundraising [2]. The TRE-SP determined that the payments to influencers constituted an unfair advantage, and violated electoral laws regarding campaign financing.

Marçal sought to overturn the original verdict through special electoral appeals. However, the court found no grounds to reverse the previous findings of irregularity [3]. The ruling ensures that the sanctions remain in place through the beginning of the next decade [1].

José Antonio Encinas Manfré, president of the TRE-SP, oversaw the proceedings that led to the final denial of the appeals [1]. The court's decision focuses on the integrity of the electoral process, and the prevention of illicit financial influence in public office bids [2].

“The TRE-SP denied appeals from Pablo Marçal, upholding a ruling that renders him ineligible for office until 2032.”

This ruling establishes a legal precedent in Brazil regarding the regulation of 'influencer marketing' in political campaigns. By penalizing the use of paid digital personalities as a form of illegal fundraising and communication misuse, the TRE-SP is tightening the definition of campaign spending. This move limits the ability of candidates to bypass traditional transparency requirements through decentralized digital payments.