The Federal Court of Rio Grande do Norte sentenced the Bolsonaro federal deputy General Girão (PL-RN) to pay R$2 million for collective moral damages, on charges of inciting undemocratic acts after the 2022 presidential elections.
The sentence also held the Union, the state of Rio Grande do Norte and the city of Natal responsible, which must together pay R$5 million in compensation. Furthermore, the three parties were ordered to delete publications made on the deputy’s social networks and to promote educational actions to prevent the occurrence of acts against the Democratic Rule of Law.
In the decision, judge Janilson de Siqueira, of the 4th Federal Court, stated that Girão’s attitude violated the Democratic Rule of Law, the legal order and the democratic regime, threatening the legitimacy of the electoral process and the performance of the Judiciary. The judge also highlighted that the parliamentarian disseminated hate speech and fake news about the election results, inciting the population and the Armed Forces to subvert the democratic order.
The Federal Public Ministry (MPF), which had requested the conviction, argued that Girão used his social networks abusively to encourage actions that undermined the democratic order, including the continuation of a Bolsonarist camp in Natal.
The MPF also noted that, a month before the attacks on January 8, 2023, Girão was already instigating violence against institutions, especially the National Congress, which, according to the institution, would have caused subsequent damage.
The Union, in addition to paying compensation of R$2 million, was obliged to hold, within 60 days, a public apology ceremony, with the participation of the commanders of the Armed Forces. The event should be widely publicized in major newspapers and media outlets such as radio, TV and the internet.
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The Union will also have to promote a training course for the military, with the aim of reviewing the events of 2022 and reinforcing the importance of respecting the principles of the Democratic Rule of Law.
The judge stated that the notes issued by the commanders of the Armed Forces, in November 2022, normalized the camps and anti-democratic demonstrations, creating an environment conducive to the attacks on January 8, 2023.
The Union, the state of Rio Grande do Norte and the city of Natal were also held responsible for allowing the camps to continue and the irregular obstruction of the roads in front of the 16th Motorized Infantry Battalion, in Natal.
