The government of Bahia, led by the left-wing Workers' Party (PT), has dismissed a military police officer from a coordinating role after he publicly expressed support for ACM Neto, the opposition candidate, during a Carnival event. This incident occurred just two weeks prior to the officer's dismissal and highlights the tension between the current government and the opposition in the upcoming elections. Neto is set to run against the incumbent governor, Jerônimo Rodrigues, who is seeking re-election.

The officer, Lieutenant Colonel André Luís Teodósio Presa, made his supportive remark while attending a Carnival celebration in Salvador on February 19, where Neto was present. Out of uniform, and in a spontaneous moment, Presa shouted his support for Neto during the festivities, an act that was later shared on Neto's campaign social media. This situation raises questions about the appropriate political conduct for members of the police force and how their personal beliefs can impact their professional standing within politically polarized environments.

Presa had been in his position since March 2023, serving as the coordinator of the PM's Institute of Education and Research in Bahia. His dismissal was formally announced in the state's Official Gazette, and despite attempts to reverse the decision through the hierarchy of the military police, he was unsuccessful. This development underscores the potential risks that public officials may face when engaging in political expressions that are contrary to their governing authority's stance, particularly in a highly charged political atmosphere like that of Bahia, where the gubernatorial race is closely watched and deeply contested.