Regarding the letters published by the Guardian on recent events in Brazil (Bolsonaro and the rise of the far right, 1 November; We deplore this attack on freedom of expression in Brazil’s universities, 1 November), allow me to clarify the following:

1. Brazil has an independent judiciary that is also in charge of organising elections and ensuring the application of electoral laws. Lower-court electoral judges had determined the removal of electoral campaign material displayed in public universities on the grounds that public institutions and buildings cannot be utilised for political purposes, in accordance with federal law 9504/97. At the request of the federal prosecutor’s office, these decisions were promptly overturned by the supreme court, which ruled that they violated the principles of freedom of expression and university autonomy, as enshrined in our constitution.

2. President-Elect Jair Bolsonaro has stated time and again his unwavering commitment to this very constitution and his firm defence of the rule of law.

3. In October, more than 115 million Brazilians went to the polls to elect a new president. In these elections, we also elected new members of both houses of Congress, as well as governors and state legislators. Brazil has once again demonstrated that it is a vibrant democracy, with a free and vigilant press. Our political institutions have proved to be rock-solid. Divergent views coexist as in any functioning and dynamic democratic system.

Fred Arruda

Ambassador of Brazil to the UK

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