Brazilian Deputy Gustavo Gayer Ordered to Pay PT 20,000 Reais for Defamatory Claim

A judge of the 5th Civil Court in Brasília, Wagner Pessoa, ruled on 23 June that federal deputy Gustavo Gayer (PL‑GO) must pay the Workers’ Party (PT) 20,000 reais. The decision stemmed from a social‑media post by Gayer in which he alleged that the PT had directed attacker Adelio Bispo to stab presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro.

The PT sued, arguing the claim was false and damaged its image. The court found Gayer had not provided any evidence to substantiate the allegation and that his statement went beyond protected political criticism, rejecting his claim of parliamentary immunity. The ruling is a first‑instance judgment and may be appealed.