Dino asked the court’s president, Edson Fachin, to schedule an in-person review of the ruling against Mendonca—a member and vice-president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE)—who had ordered the removal of social media posts linked to Our Lady of Aparecida.

VMendonca’s measure was adopted after the campaign of Senator Flavio Bolsonaro requested the removal of content linking the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate to an alleged intention to strip the saint of her title as Patroness of Brazil.

  Flavio Bolsonaro denied such an intention, and his legal team maintained that the posts were spreading false information—including content by comedian Antonio Tabet, who subsequently appealed the electoral decision to the STF.

  In referring the matter, Dino proposed that the STF examine the oversight of individual decisions made by TSE members and the principle of collegiality within that court.

  According to Dino, the situation is particularly significant given the approach of October 12—the date legally established for celebrations honoring Our Lady of Aparecida—when posts on the subject are likely to increase.

  Lawyers argued that Dino’s decision interferes with matters that, in their view, fall within the jurisdiction of the Electoral Court, as well as issues currently being analyzed by the full STF bench in a case regarding the responsibilities of digital platforms.

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