Brazil's Superior Electoral Court has unanimously adopted a decision authorizing the sending of military troops to Rio de Janeiro to provide security for municipal elections slated for early October, local daily "O Globo" reported on Friday.
The troops would not be deployed in the entire city, but only in areas where crimes like drug dealing and militia-related violence were rampant, according to Carlos Ayres Britto, chief of the Regional Electoral Court.
The army troops will work with local and federal police to ensure that candidates are able to conduct their campaigns freely in all parts of the city. They will also provide security for booths in voting areas.
It will be the first time in the country that troops are being sent to a city when elections are still nearly two months away. Troops usually ensure security on polling day only.
The deployment was requested by Rio governor Sergio Cabral Filhos, who feared that voters would be coerced to vote for candidates favored by some criminal groups.
Rio's municipal election will be held on Oct. 5.
Governor Cabral Filhos will have the final say on when troops will begin to perform duties in the city.
Brazilians will elect mayors and city councilors in more than 5,000 municipalities this year.
Source:Xinhua
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