Bolsonaro Is Convicted at The Appellate Court Level for Attacks on Journalists during his Term

OTHER SIDE: Former president previously said he exercised his rights of criticism and freedom of expression

São Paulo

The Court of Justice of São Paulo condemned this Thursday (25) former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to pay compensation of R$ 50 thousand for collective moral damage to journalists.

The lawsuit, filed by the Union of Professional Journalists of the State of São Paulo on April 7, 2021, accused Bolsonaro of practicing moral harassment of the entire professional category, affronting the image and honor of journalists without distinction during his term, which ended last year.

BRASILIA, DF, BRASIL, 18-05-2023, 12h00: Bolsonaro is convicted of attacks on journalists during his term. (Foto: Pedro Ladeira/Folhapress, PODER) - Folhapress

At the trial court level, Judge Tamara Hochgreb Matos recalled the former head of state's offenses to professionals and determined the payment of R$ 100,000 to the State Fund for the Defense of Diffuse Rights in July 2022.

The court of appeals now reduced the indemnity amount by half, maintaining the conviction. The decision was unanimous.

According to data from Fenaj (National Federation of Journalists), Bolsonaro carried out 175 attacks on the press in 2020. Abraji (Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism) accounted for 557 attacks on the media and their collaborators in 2022

Translated by Cassy Dias

Read the article in the original language