Federal Deputy Roberto Monteiro (PL-RJ) presented this Friday (6) a bill that creates the so-called “Law of Humorous Freedom”, in response to the condemnation of humorist Léo Lins ,.
The proposal emerges as a political reaction to the trial, which generated strong mobilization of parliamentarians combined with former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
In justification of the text, Monteiro states that the measure aims to prevent what he calls “prior censorship” to humorous manifestations. The project grants criminal immunity to comedians and also to producers, exhibitors and distributors of humorous content – both in person and virtual.
“This law returns to Brazilian humor the fullness of its critical function, reinforces protection against state -owned moralizing practices that historically tweeted art and assures the citizen the right to laugh – and to laugh – without fear of abusive criminal sanctions,” says the text of the proposal.
In addition to criminal shielding, the project provides for the annulment of ongoing lawsuits related to jokes and determines the filing of proceedings for moral damages. Civil compensation already settled, however, would not be returned.
The proposal has not yet been distributed to the thematic commissions of the Chamber. On Thursday (5), Mrs Caroline de Toni (PL-SC) also presented a project on the subject, focusing on the alteration of the law of racism, to protect humorous demonstrations involving social groups.
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The sentence of Leo Lins, given by Judge Barbara de Lima ISEPPI, considered that their jokes generated embarrassment to various groups – including the elderly, northeastern, people with disabilities, blacks, Jews and homosexuals. The defense of the comedian claims that there was curtailment of artistic freedom, and the case is still subject to appeal.
Behind the scenes of the House, the movement of the Bolsonarist bench is seen as an attempt to establish a legal milestone that delimits the reach of freedom of expression in comic environments, given the advance of judicial decisions that have considered mood as subject to criminal liability. The processing of the proposals, however, may face resistance outside the allied base.
