Pablo Marçal Registers Presidential Candidacy via PRTB Despite Ineligibility

Influencer and businessman Pablo Marçal has filed for registration as a candidate for the Presidency of Brazil under the PRTB party. The move follows a provisional court injunction granted by Judge Gustavo Nardi, which allowed Marçal to leave the União Brasil party and return to the PRTB with a retroactive affiliation date of April 4. This legal maneuver enables him to meet the statutory requirement of being affiliated with a party six months prior to the election. Marçal is running on a ticket called Brasil Próspero, with Leonardo Avalanche, the national president of the PRTB, serving as the vice presidential candidate.

Despite the registration, Marçal remains ineligible to hold office until 2032. This status stems from a ruling by the Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo (TRE-SP) regarding his 2024 mayoral campaign. The court found him guilty of the undue use of social media after he allegedly incentivized the mass dissemination of video clips through a contest on Discord. While some sources note that accusations of abuse of economic power and illicit campaign spending were dismissed, the conviction for the misuse of communication media remains. Marçal's defense intends to appeal this decision to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

Leonardo Avalanche, the vice candidate, has a controversial history within the party. He was previously removed from the PRTB leadership following allegations of influence over the release of a PCC crime boss, though he denied the claims and alleged the audio was AI generated. He was later reinstated by the Electoral Court. Regarding the current candidacy, Marçal responded to the news by stating, "The Lord will provide."