TRE-MG rejects action that could impeach Nikolas for attacks on the polls in 2022

In a unanimous decision, the Regional Electoral Court of Minas Gerais (TRE-MG) rejected this Wednesday (11) the action that requested the revocation of the mandate of deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL) and his ineligibility for eight years. The Bolsonaro parliamentarian was accused of committing abuse of political power for having made posts attacking electronic voting machines and allegedly spreading false information about the Brazilian electoral system in 2022. An appeal can still be made to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

Two cases against Nikolas were brought together for trial, authored by former PSOL candidate Sara Azevedo and the Brazilian Federation of Hope (PT, PCdoB and PV). The authors called for the parliamentarian’s conviction for misuse of the media and abuse of political and economic power. At the time, the then Belo Horizonte councilor was running for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies.

The rapporteur of the cases, judge Carlos Henrique Perpétuo Braga, claimed in the vote that Nikolas’ speech could be considered reprehensible from a political point of view. However, he assessed that there was no proof of an electoral offense serious enough to justify the parliamentarian’s impeachment and ineligibility.

The vote was fully monitored by judges Antônio Leite de Pádua, Vinícius Diniz Monteiro Barros, Ricardo Ferreira Barouch, Mauro Ferreira and judge Lincoln Rodrigues de Faria.

Complaints against Nikolas

Candidate for Senate in 2022, Sara Azevedo stated that Nikolas, with a large reach on social media, published content considered to be known to be untrue or seriously out of context on platforms such as Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. She argued that the posts cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process and democratic institutions and motivated anti-democratic movements. With these acts, the then candidate would have compromised the voters’ right to freely and consciously cast their vote.

Nikolas was also accused of being part of a “misinformation ecosystem” linked to Bolsonarism, with organization and financing. The Court authorized the sending of letters to Twitter and YouTube, but denied requests to break tax and banking secrecy.

Throughout the process, the parliamentarian’s defense argued that Nikolas’ posts were spontaneous, with no intention of disseminating false information or attacking the electoral system. He also stated that the parliamentarian only defended an investigation, by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), of alleged complaints linked to electronic voting machines.

After TRE-MG’s decision, Nikolas spoke out on social media:

“Unanimously, the TRE of Minas Gerais rejected the Action that sought to revoke my mandate and declare my ineligibility filed by the Federation of PT, PCdoB and PV parties. Congratulations to the Court for the technicality and exemption”, he wrote.