Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to her Brazilian counterpart on reports of political violence in that country.

We are closely following reports of political violence ahead of Brazil's forthcoming elections, including the investigation into the recent death of the Brazilian Workers' Party official, Marcelo Arruda.

It is crucial that all candidates in these elections in Brazil, and their supporters, respect core democratic principles and electoral processes. Through our Embassy in Brasilia, the UK continues to engage with the Brazilian Government, political parties and civil society organisations on the elections, including on the issues of the right to campaign freely and peacefully, and of security. In addition, the former Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean met with representatives from the Brazilian Workers' Party in London recently where they discussed a broad range of issues, including the importance of free and fair elections in Brazil in October.