Deputy was denounced by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), at the end of September, for ‘coercion’ in the coup plot process
The Ethics Council of the Chamber of Deputies archived, this Wednesday (22), the representation made requesting the impeachment of the deputy (PL-SP). There are also four other representations against the same parliamentarian that are at the Board of the Chamber awaiting submission to the Ethics Council. The representation rapporteur, (União-MG), presented a vote asking for the text to be rejected. The score ended with 11 votes in favor of the opinion and 7 against. The PT leader in the Chamber, (RJ), stated that the party will appeal the decision of the Ethics Council in the Chamber plenary.
In the representation made to the Ethics Council, the PT says that, in statements, Eduardo incited the disruption of the electoral process, attempted to subject national jurisdiction to the scrutiny of foreign powers and committed acts of hostility to the constitutional order and the democratic rule of law.
According to the rapporteur, the representation is based on a “mistaken” premise, and the PL deputy was not responsible for sanctions imposed on Brazil and the country’s authorities.
“The representation is based on a mistaken premise: that the represented would be in some way responsible for a possible adoption of coercive measures or sanctions by those against the party. Such reasoning is factually unsustainable and legally unfounded, as it confuses acts of a sovereign State with individual manifestations of a political nature. The decision of a foreign country to adopt or not adopt economic, diplomatic or political sanctions is, in essence, act of sovereignty”, he says.
In the same report, Freitas also says that Eduardo’s statements in the United States continue to be protected based on the parliamentary prerogative of inviolability of opinion, words and votes and that he exercises the “right to political criticism”.
“This prerogative is not limited to the internal sphere or formal pronouncements in plenary; it extends to the international context, reflecting the supra-individual nature of political representation, which transcends geographical limits”, states the rapporteur. Oppositionists praised Freitas’ work. “It is not appropriate to continue (representation). I don’t think this is an ideological and political battlefield,” said Sóstenes Cavalcante (RJ), leader of the PL in the Chamber.
Centrão parliamentarians expressed support for the archiving decision. “The era of inquisitions is over”, stated José Rocha (União-BA). “The Constitution guarantees us this right: to opinion, word and vote. It is not up to us parliamentarians to be judging colleagues who use words, opinions and votes.” Government officials protested. “What’s the difference between who came in and stoned the Supreme Court (on January 8) and what this man did in the United States?” asked Lindbergh Farias (RJ), leader of the PT in the Chamber.
The PT even asked to remove Freitas from the rapporteur. The Union deputy has already called Eduardo Bolsonaro a “friend”. The president of the Ethics Council, Fabio Schiochet (União-SC) rejected the request
Freitas was deputy leader of the government of . Recently, the deputy voted in favor of the proposed amendment to the Constitution (PEC) of Blindagem, of amnesty for those involved in the , of the suspension of criminal action against fellow parliamentarian (PL-RJ), now convicted of being part of the plan that attempted a coup d’état in the country, and against the arrest of Chiquinho Brazão (no party-RJ), accused of being the mastermind of the former Rio councilwoman.
The representation rapporteur against Bolsonaro responded to arguments from government supporters. “I am seeking the independence of the Brazilian Parliament, which has been usurped in its constitutional powers as has never been seen in the history of this Republic,” said Freitas.
“This House of the people set several precedents and allowed Parliament to be reduced to a secondary role”, continued the rapporteur. “The time has come for us to raise awareness in the Chamber of Deputies of the more than legitimate right for parliamentarians to speak out on national territory or abroad.”
Eduardo was denounced by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), at the end of September, for “coercion” in the coup plot process. The Attorney General of the Republic, concluded that he and blogger Paulo Figueiredo articulated sanctions in the United States against the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to try to pressure ministers not to condemn former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
In a joint note, Eduardo Bolsonaro and Paulo Figueiredo said they were the target of “political persecution”, attributed the complaint to “lackeys” of the minister, said they would continue the campaign in the United States and informed that they would await formal notification to speak out in the process.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
Published by Nátaly Tenório
