TSE Sets Free TV and Radio Airtime for 2026 Presidential Candidates
2 sources · Brazil
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- G1
- Estadao
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The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) has defined the distribution of free electoral advertising time on national radio and television for the 2026 presidential candidates. The electoral programming is scheduled to begin on August 28. The allocation of time is based on party representation in the Chamber of Deputies and compliance with legal requirements such as the performance clause.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, representing the Brasil Pronto para Mais coalition, received the most time with 5 minutes and 31 seconds per day. Flávio Bolsonaro of the PL follows with 4 minutes and 20 seconds. Ronaldo Caiado of the PSD was allocated 2 minutes and 2 seconds, and Augusto Cury of Avante received 35 seconds. Candidates such as Romeu Zema of Novo and Renan Santos of Missão will not have time in the free network advertising.
According to the TSE, 90 percent of the time is distributed proportionally to the number of federal deputies elected, while the remaining 10 percent is divided equally among qualifying parties. In addition to the network blocks, campaigns will have specific insertions of 30 and 60 seconds throughout the day. The presidential propaganda will air on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The TSE also conducted a draw to determine the exhibition order for the first day, placing Augusto Cury first, followed by Ronaldo Caiado, Flávio Bolsonaro, and finally Lula.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- The report focused on the specific time allotments and the order of appearance for the candidates.
- Centre-right
- The report provided extensive technical detail regarding the legal calculations, the performance clause, and the specific number of deputies used to determine the airtime.
Sources
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