Ethics Council: rapporteur changes vote and files lawsuit against Nikolas Ferreira

transphobia

The action against Nikolas Ferreira was opened after the deputy made a speech considered transphobic in the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies

The Council of Ethics filed this Wednesday (9), by 12 votes in favor and 5 against, a process that was being processed in the collegiate and that could revoke the mandate of deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG).

The filing took place after the rapporteur of the action, deputy Alexandre Leite (União Brasil-SP), changed his vote and manifested himself for the inadmissibility of the case, that is, the non-continuity of the process.

Hours earlier, in this Wednesday’s session, Leite had voted for the continuation of the case, but after listening to deputies who came out in defense of Nikolas Ferreira, he chose to vote for the shelving of the action.

The action against Nikolas Ferreira was opened after the deputy made a speech considered transphobic in the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies. On the occasion, on International Women’s Day, the parliamentarian said that women were losing ground to “men who feel like women”.

Ferreira’s speech was made moments after deputy Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP) gave a speech on the Chamber’s tribune. Erika Hilton and Duda Salabert (PDT-MG) are the first transgender federal deputies in history.

At the time, the deputy still wore a wig and even said that he felt like a transsexual woman and, therefore, would have “a place to speak”.

The representation against the Minas Gerais parliamentarian was opened by the PSOL, PDT, PSB, PCdoB and PT parties, which defend the loss of the deputy’s mandate for the crime of transphobia.

In May, the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) told the Federal Supreme Court (STF) that the deputy’s speech is protected by parliamentary immunity.

What does Nikolas Ferreira say?

Nikolas Ferreira attended this Wednesday’s Ethics Council meeting to defend himself. He claimed to have used the wig as a form of “representation” and denied having made jokes when speaking on the platform. He also made an appeal for the Council of Ethics not to be used to “make political persecution”.

“In addition to the support I have from the highest level of the Public Ministry, which is the PGR, I really ask for the filing and that this does not serve, that this commission does not serve as a trophy for the opponents”,

he said.

*With information from CNN

Read more:

Minister Roberto Barroso is elected president of the STF

Roberto Cidade reinforces the importance of environmental education during the 2nd ‘Zero Waste’ Forum

“New PAC will boost the country’s development”, says Sinésio Campos