The Electoral Court condemned, this Thursday (11), senator Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL) for publishing false accusations without evidence against federal deputy Arthur Lira (PP-AL). In addition to the conviction, the senator will also have to remove the publication and pay a fine of R$5,000.
Renan Calheiros has one day to delete the post.
The decision, signed by electoral judge Antonio José de Carvalho Araújo, from TRE-AL, concerns a publication made by the senator on May 19 in which he wrote: “The promiscuous relationship between sectors of power and financial interests continues to produce alarming episodes. Arthur Lira received a mansion valued at R$30 million after signing the amendment linked to the Master’s interests. When private interest begins to dictate political movements, the people are the ones who pay the bill.” Brazilian. The truth needs to come out in full.”
In the sentence, the judge states that the elements presented by Renan do not prove “illicit compensation” nor do they indicate a link between the facts narrated and any specific functional act by Arthur Lira. The decision also notes that freedom of expression does not protect the dissemination of discrediting imputations without a minimally consistent factual basis.
In deeming the action valid, the Electoral Court concluded that the publication went beyond the limits of legitimate political criticism by associating Arthur Lira with receiving undue advantages without evidence capable of supporting the accusation.
