Dallagnol says TSE “invented an ineligibility” to impeach him

Federal deputy Deltan Dallagnol (Podemos-PR) stated that the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) “invented an ineligibility” to impeach him and reversed the presumption of innocence. In addition, according to him, there was a “revenge” of the powerful and he was impeached for fighting corruption. The statements were given in the Chamber of Deputies this Wednesday afternoon (17).

“As time goes by, the system is taking revenge, retaliating against those who dared to fight corruption in Brasilia. I was impeached for revenge,” said Dallagnol.

On Tuesday night (16), unanimously, the Electoral Court rejected Dallagnol’s candidacy registration, which ended up losing the mandate of federal deputy. The TSE’s understanding was that the then MPF ​​prosecutor would have asked for his own exoneration as a way to circumvent the ineligibility, a direct consequence of these possible future punishments.

During this Wednesday’s statement, the parliamentarian countered and said that he was impeached due to an alleged disciplinary process that never existed.

“Punish me in this case, for a future crime, or worse, for a charge that doesn’t exist. And for a condemnation that does not yet exist in relation to me. They reversed the presumption of innocence, which benefits so many corrupt people with infinite resources, but for those who fight corruption, what counts is the presumption of guilt. They reversed the presumption of innocence and turned it into a charge of guilt in defiance of the law,” said Dallagnol.

Criticism of Lula and the TSE

Throughout the speech, Dallagnol also made a series of criticisms of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and the TSE ministers who decided to reject his candidacy registration. Without naming any names, he stated that the seven members of the Electoral Court who voted for his impeachment were led by a minister who had already told Lula: “mission given is mission accomplished.” He was referring to Minister Benedito Gonçalves, rapporteur of the case at the TSE, who allegedly said the phrase during Lula’s graduation ceremony, in December 2022.

“Today the leadership system implements its revenge and has many powerful people united in this effort, great politicians, including a present from the Republic convicted of corruption and disregarded in a political decision of the Federal Supreme Court. We still see certain ministers of the Federal Supreme Court and of the Superior Electoral Court who have always opposed Lava Jato. Especially when it hit their corrupt pet politicians”, criticized Dallagnol.

Defense will appeal

Dallagnol did not talk about what the strategy will be to try to reverse the TSE decision and recover the mandate. Earlier, the advisory said that the defense is studying all possible measures to appeal the decision and will file appeals with the competent courts to judge the cassation. Although the TSE determined the immediate execution of the decision, the action was not final and left open the possibility of appeal.

The defense can appeal both to the TSE itself, which would be for a more detailed analysis of the decision, and to the Federal Supreme Court (STF), to contest the decision of the Electoral Court.