The Chamber of Deputies approved this Wednesday (15) the suspension of the criminal action pending in the Federal Supreme Court (STF) against federal deputy Gustavo Gayer (PL -GO). The report by deputy Zé Haroldo Cathedral (PSD – RR) was approved by 268 votes in favor of 167 against. Before reaching the plenary, the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) approved the suspension last week.
The decision does not mean that the process has been archived: it will be suspended until the end of the parliamentary term. This is the second criminal action opened by the STF suspended by the Chamber. In May of this year, the House suspended part of the process against deputy Alexandre Ramagem (PL – RJ), convicted of participating in the attempted coup d’état in 2022.
Gayer is responsible for the crimes of slander, insult and defamation against senator Vanderlan Cardoso (PSD – GO). In a video published on social media in 2023, the deputy called Vanderlan a “bum” and said that he “turned his back on the people in exchange for a commission”. The parliamentarian insinuated that Vanderlan supported the re-election of the then president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD – MG), in exchange for space in the House.
Zé Haroldo Cathedral was criticized by the government base for a lack of transparency when he chose not to read his opinion in favor of suspending the process. The president of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicans – PB), however, validated the decision and allowed the vote to continue, maintaining the opinion approved by the CCJ.
Opposition deputies say they are unhappy with the criminal action against Gayer. In their assessment, the deputy would be preserved by parliamentary immunity. “This is a case for the Ethics Council, not for the STF”, argued deputy Cabo Gilberto SIlva (PL – PB).
The suspension of a process is provided for in the Federal Constitution, but it only applies to parliamentarians and to crimes committed after the defendant became a deputy or senator.
