Anthony Boadle, Ricardo Brito

BRASILIA/Reuters – Brazil’s Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) said on Monday that the European Union has been invited to inspect its general election in Brazil. This year President Jair Bolsonaro is running for re-election.

Bolsonaro had questioned Brazil’s electronic voting system. He also made unfounded allegations of fraud during the race for 2018, raising concerns about his inability to accept the outcomes of October’s election.

Recent polls show that the president of the far right is trailing behind Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, the former leftist president.

Josep Borrell (Vice President of European Commission), who is responsible for EU’s foreign policy, thanked the TSE last month. He said he needed to consult 27 EU member states as well as the European Parliament. A person familiar with the subject told Reuters.

A source claimed and an additional, who requested anonymity in order to discuss diplomatic deliberations that the EU intends to send a mission, possibly to Brazil, to examine the possibility of the EU being an official observer during the October general election.

Brasilia’s EU embassy declined to comment. Bolsonaro’s office didn’t immediately reply to my request for comment.

TSE informed Reuters that it had invited international organizations and groups to establish election observation missions. These included the Organization of American States, Carter Center, South American parliament Mercosur, and Washington’s International Foundation for Electoral Systems. According to the electoral authority, invitations are still being negotiated.

“The OAS has previously been invited to observe the 2018 & 2020 elections. TSE sources said that they are inviting additional institutions this year. They requested anonymity in order to talk freely.