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2026 ELECTION

Flávio Bolsonaro wanted a poll to vanish. Instead, he put it back in the headlines

As the current head of Brazil’s electoral court, Supreme Court Justice Nunes Marques is due to have a major impact on the coming campaign. Photo: Antonio Augusto/TSE

Supreme Court Justice Kassio Nunes Marques, Brazil’s new chief electoral justice, granted a partial injunction suspending an Atlas Intel presidential poll. Released on May 19, the survey showed far-right Senator Flávio Bolsonaro shedding six points in a hypothetical runoff against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. 

It was the first national poll to be taken after the “Dark Horse” affair: concerning an audio recording in which Flávio asked Banco Master's owner, disgraced banker Daniel Vorcaro, for tens of millions of dollars to bankroll a film about his father, Jair Bolsonaro. At least USD 10.6 million reportedly changed hands.

Lawyers for Flávio's Liberal Party (PL) argue that…

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