In Lago da Pedra, Brazil, the Electoral Justice has taken decisive action against three councilors from the Green Party (PV) — Antônio Romário, Wemerson de Barros, and Francisco Alves Filho — by revoking their mandates. This decision stems from accusations that these officials engaged in fraudulent activities concerning the legal gender quota designed to ensure women representation in elections. The allegations suggest that the party registered Solange Vieira da Cruz Bispo solely to meet the statutory requirement of allocating 30% of the candidacies to women, yet she did not actively promote her campaign.

The controversy arose when it was revealed that Solange Vieira, who was purportedly a candidate to fulfill the gender quota, had only received one vote during the election, which raised significant suspicions regarding the legitimacy of her candidacy. The investigation indicated that rather than campaign for herself, Solange openly supported her brother-in-law, Salomão Bispo, who was also running for a council position. Such actions contradict the purpose of gender quotas, which aim to enhance the political presence of women in governance and ensure fair representation.

As a result, the Electoral Public Ministry (MPE) declared all votes received by the electoral list forged by the party as null and void. This case sheds light on the manipulation of electoral laws and the critical need for stricter oversight to ensure compliance with gender quota regulations. It raises important questions about the integrity of the electoral process in Brazil and the need for reforms to protect against such fraudulent practices in the future.