STF denies suspension of office of deputies involved in vandalism

Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), denied this Sunday (29) the request to suspend the tenure of 11 federal deputies elected or re-elected in the 2022 elections who allegedly encouraged or participated in the acts that resulted in the invasion and vandalism to the headquarters of the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary powers on January 8. On Saturday (28), the Attorney General’s Office had already spoken out against the same request, made by lawyers linked to the Prerogativas group, with a progressive bias.

“At this time, any consequences of the conduct reported in relation to the terms of office of nominated Federal Deputies should be analyzed within the scope of the Ethics Council of the Chamber of Deputies, pursuant to article 55 of the Federal Constitution”, wrote Moraes in his decision. The action, filed by lawyers Marco Aurélio de Carvalho, Fabiano Silva dos Santos and Pedro Estevam Alves Pinto, targeted the performance of elected deputies Dr. Luiz Ovando (PP-MS), Marcos Pollon (PL-MS), Rodolfo Nogueira (PL-MS), João Henrique Catan (PL-MS), Rafael Tavares (PRTB-MS), Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ), Silvia Waiãpi (PL-AP), André Fernandes (PL-CE), Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG), Sargento Rodrigues (PL-MG) and Walber Virgolino (PL-PB).

In the same decision, the minister also rejected the initiation of a new police inquiry to investigate the conduct of elected parliamentarians. Moraes argues that there are already specific inquiries that determine the participation of deputies Silvia Waiãpi and André Fernandes, as well as deputy Clarissa Tércio (PP-PE). “Absolutely EVERYONE will be held civil, political and criminally responsible for acts that threaten Democracy, the Rule of Law and Institutions, including for willful connivance – by action or omission – motivated by ideology, money, weakness, cowardice, ignorance, bad faith or bad karatism”, writes Moraes in his decision. “Brazilian Democracy will not be shaken, much less destroyed, by terrorist criminals, as its defense is non-negotiable”, he adds.