The deputy Marcel van Hattem (Novo-RS) was indicted by the Federal Police (PF), last Monday (25), after criticizing delegate Fábio Schor in a speech in the Chamber of Deputies.
In August, Hattem accused Schor of producing “fraudulent reports” about Filipe Martins, a former advisor to the former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
“I’m not afraid to speak out and I repeat: I want people to know, yes, who this so-called federal police officer is who made several absolutely fraudulent reports against innocent people, including Felipe Martins [ex-assessor de Bolsonaro na Presidência]”, said Van Hattem in a speech.
How much do you need to live on Dividends?
Take part in the free Dividend Manual training and discover the simple and powerful strategy for living on income.
On the same occasion, the parliamentarian stated that the delegate has “acted like a bandit”. At the end, he reinforced: “I have parliamentary immunity. I should have even started by saying that.”
The PF, in turn, considers that Hattem’s statements constitute slander and defamation and that his speech falsely attributed crimes to the delegate.
In a live broadcast on social media, on Monday night, the deputy classifies the indictment as “ridiculous and absurd”.
Continues after advertising
“Anyone who denounces what is happening at the Federal Police, as I did in the Chamber of Deputies and will continue to do, is being investigated, but what I reported will not be investigated”, claims the deputy.
Hattem says he will not comply with “illegal orders” and describes the PF report as “clandestine”. He also criticized Operation Countercoup, which indicted Bolsonaro and 36 other people for plotting an alleged coup d’état that included the murder of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) and the minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Alexandre de Morais.
“These reports have more holes than Swiss cheese. They are full of inconsistencies. They create a narrative in the press to get it across to the public”, criticized Van Hattem.
Continues after advertising
Understand the case
Filipe Martins was arrested on February 8 in the Tempus Veritatis Operation, which investigates an alleged attempted coup d’état in the Bolsonaro government. On August 9, he was released by order of Alexandre de Moraes.
Hattem’s accusation against delegate Fábio Schor, in a speech in the Chamber of Deputies, was made the week following Martins’ release.
Filipe Martins was also one of the 37 people indicted in Operation Contragolpe, which revealed a coup plot that envisaged the murder of Lula, Alckmin and Alexandre de Moraes. He is currently on provisional release.
Continues after advertising
Hattem also criticized the extradition request made by the PF for bloggers Allan dos Santos and Oswaldo Eustáquio, also targets of STF investigations.
New Party takes a stand
The New Party defended Marcel van Hattem in a note released this Tuesday (26). Read in full:
“The federal bench of the Novo party expresses its indignation and repudiation of the indictment of Deputy Marcel van Hattem by the Federal Police, due to statements made in the legitimate exercise of his parliamentary function.
Continues after advertising
This attack represents a direct affront to parliamentary immunity, guaranteed by article 53 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees deputies and senators the inviolability of their opinions, words and votes. This protection is not a personal privilege, but an essential pillar for the defense of liberal democracy and the rule of law, allowing frank debate and oversight of public agents.
It is unacceptable for a parliamentarian to be intimidated for fulfilling his duty to expose abuses and protect citizens’ rights. Instead of indicting Deputy Marcel van Hattem, the authorities should direct their investigations to the delegate he denounced, whose actions are the subject of serious accusations of abuse of authority.
The indictment of Deputy Marcel van Hattem is a dangerous and unacceptable precedent, which threatens freedom of expression and the free exercise of parliamentary prerogatives. The Novo bench will not give in to any attempt at intimidation or censorship that compromises the independence of the Legislative Power and the free exercise of parliamentary activity.”
Continues after advertising
(With Estadão Content)
