The PSD pre-candidate for the Presidency, Ronaldo Caiado (PSD), stated that he supports “100%” the approval of the , which equates speeches and conduct of hatred or aversion towards women to the crime of racism. The advancement of the proposal in the Senate triggered a national debate about its effectiveness in the face of the escalation of gender-based violence and the limits of freedom of expression — and provoked dissatisfaction on the right, which is working to overturn the project in the Chamber.
The initiative was also endorsed by other opposition parliamentarians, such as Senator Damares Alves (Republicanos-DF) and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ). Also a pre-candidate for the Presidency, he has reinforced his nods to female voters to try to reduce this segment’s history of rejection of his father, Jair Bolsonaro (PL). After the reaction from Bolsonarists, the former president’s son said he had reservations about the PL and highlighted that the proposal could be improved in the Chamber.
Romeu Zema, pre-candidate for Novo, said he was against the project, given the breadth of concepts. Caiado, in turn, had been keeping silent. But, this Monday, he highlighted to Folha de S. Paulo that he had “no reparations” to make other than full support.
— I agree 100%. I have no reparations to make to that extent,” he said. — It is an addition to the law on crimes and prejudices. I have always worked in favor and have always been extremely firm in this position.
As O GLOBO showed, as soon as he was announced as a pre-candidate for President, Caiado recorded videos in which he explores figures from his state management in the fight against crime and positions himself as someone with a “heavy hand” against female aggressors. The focus on the public security agenda with specific mention of combating gender-based violence mirrors a movement already adopted by those who should be its main competitors in the race for Planalto, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL).
Right-wing reaction
Continues after advertising
The report is by Senator Soraya Thronicke (Podemos-MS), who brought together projects made by Senator Ana Paula Lobato (PSB-MA) and Senator Mecias de Jesus (Republicanos-RR).
Deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG) released a video on social media criticizing the project. In the post, the deputy does not mention Flávio Bolsonaro, but complains about right-wing senators who supported the initiative.
— I am extremely disappointed with our Senate. After all, no one objected to this and saw the real danger of what was happening. In other words, it just shows that many, including those on the right, are in a childish cradle of the cultural war. There is no justification for not having fought against this project.
Bolsonaro deputies claim that the project would become an instrument of censorship. On the other hand, parliamentarians who articulated the initiative say that the text clearly defines the cases that should be punished and rule out its use to restrict freedom of expression.
Influencer Paulo Figueiredo, close to former deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), said that Flávio needs to be held accountable for his vote.
“I didn’t talk to Flávio to find out what was going through his mind to vote in favor of this abomination of ‘misogeny’. Everything I’ve heard so far makes it completely unjustifiable, but I would really like to hear from him before issuing a definitive opinion. The voter has to hold it accountable.”
Continues after advertising
In turn, deputy Julia Zanatta (PL-SC), also critical of the project, avoided taking a stance against the support given by the PL pre-candidate for the Presidency. She declared that Flávio still acted to prevent the text from being processed quickly in Congress.
– It was the entire Senate (which supported the project). Flávio also signed the appeal that took the project to the plenary. He could have ended up at the CCJ (Constitution and Justice Commission) – said the deputy.
In addition to equating misogyny with the crime of racism, the project increases penalties for offenses against women. Under the proposal, injury motivated by hatred or aversion to the female gender will be punished with imprisonment for two to five years and a fine.
Continues after advertising
Today, cases of offenses against women based on gender are classified as insults in the Penal Code, with a penalty of up to one year in detention — or even double that when there is a context of domestic violence. With the change, the conduct is now treated as a more serious crime, with a greater penalty and covered by the Racism Law.
There is still no forecast of when the text will be analyzed by the Chamber.
