SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's federal police are accusing the country's tourism minister of committing electoral crimes during last year's general elections.

Marcelo Alvaro Antonio was then leading President Jair Bolsonaro's party in Minas Gerais state and police say he abused a law requiring parties to have women make up at least 30 percent of their candidates.

Police say that many women on the party slate were basically fake candidates who received no campaign funds or promotion. Brazilian electoral prosecutors will decide whether the charges will be sent to a judge for a formal indictment.

Neither Antonio nor Bolsonaro have made comments on the police decision.

Antonio denied any wrongdoing when one of the female candidates made the first of many complaints about the issue in March.