Deputy cited the case of Silvio Almeida and ministers fired by Lula in response to the first lady on the project that criminalizes misogyny speech
The deputy (PL-MG) stated that First Lady Janja Lula da Silva practices “selective silence” in defense of women. The statement was made this Sunday (29 March 2026) in a video published on social media.
The congressman cited the case of the former Minister of Human Rights, Silvio Almeida, in September 2024 on suspicion of sexual harassment against several women, including Minister Anielle Franco (Racial Equality). Almeida is the target of a which is processed under secrecy.
“And a guy will commit a crime in the future, you can’t predict it. But do you know what you can do after that? Speak up, take a stand. That’s exactly what you did, just the opposite. You simply showed solidarity with the minister, but remained silent, with Silvio Almeida’s attitude”these. “If he were Bolsonaro’s minister, would you remain silent? This is not defending women. This is defending the women who suit you. And silence yourself when it doesn’t suit you. Selective silence”, continued.
Watch the video (9min11s):
Nikolas stated that Lula fired 3 women from his current government to “being able to embrace men from Centrão”.
“One even accused of misogyny attacks. It was another one who gave space to a man from Centrão. The other was fired and then arrived and said that it was not due to incompetence that she was fired”, these.
The deputy made reference to the former ministers of Health, Nísia Gonçalves, and Women, Cida Gonçalves. Nísia stated in March 2025 that she suffered “a systematic and misogynistic campaign of devaluation” of your “work, capacity and suitability” during the inauguration ceremony of Alexandre Padilha (PT) in Health and Gleisi Hoffmann (PT) in the Secretariat of Institutional Relations. Cida, who was replaced by Márcia Lopes in May 2025, harassment or feud.
UNDERSTAND
Nikolas’ post was a response to a video shared by Janja. In made on Friday (27th March), the first lady made an appeal to the Chamber of Deputies so that the project that criminalizes misogyny speech goes quickly to a vote. “We, women, need this project to be quickly approved in the Chamber and sanctioned by the President of the Republic. It is an important instrument for protecting women’s lives”, he stated.
Reported by Senator (Podemos-MS), the project defines misogyny as the manifestation of hatred or aversion towards women. Under the proposal, crimes motivated by this type of conduct will have the same legal framework as racism, with stricter penalties, in addition to being non-bailable and imprescriptible. Read the (PDF – 266 kB).
The first lady also refuted criticism made about the project on the internet. “I would also like to record here a little bit of my anger with a certain group of men, or perhaps a specific one, who has the nerve to, on the internet, defraud a bill by disseminating fake news”, these.
The criticism was directed at Nikolas, who .
“I want to say that while you, deputy, were worried about producing a video full of lies and protecting those men who go online to spread hate speech, a woman was murdered”, declared Janja. “We women will not give up. Neither will I, deputy, don’t worry. I will always be alongside women in this fight against this hate speech. I will not give up”, these.
ON PROPOSAL
According to the Aurélio dictionary, misogyny means the contempt or aversion to women, or the morbid repulsion of men to sexual contact with women.
The text by the Senate on March 24. If it is approved now by the deputies and later sanctioned by the president (PT), the act of insulting someone by offending their dignity or decorum due to misogyny will be punishable by 2 to 5 years, in addition to a fine. Practicing, inducing or inciting discrimination or prejudice against women will also become a criminal offense, with a penalty of 1 to 3 years. The penalty will be double for crimes committed against women in the context of domestic and family violence.
The project says that the judge must consider how “Discriminatory is any attitude or treatment given to a person or minority groups that causes embarrassment, humiliation, shame, fear or undue exposure, and that would not usually be given to other groups due to color, ethnicity, religion, national origin or status as a woman”.
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