Senator Soraya Thronicke ordered to pay R$ 50,000 for defamation

A court in Alagoas has ordered Senator Soraya Thronicke (PSB-MS) to pay R$ 50,000 in moral damages to Federal Deputy Alfredo Gaspar (PL-AL). The ruling follows Thronicke's public accusations that Gaspar had committed sexual assault against a minor.

Judge Henrique Gomes de Barros Teixeira ruled that parliamentary immunity is not an absolute right and does not serve as a “salvo-conduto” (safe conduct) for imputing criminal facts without minimum evidentiary support. The judge noted that the statements were made in an external environment and amplified via digital platforms, exceeding the bounds of political criticism and violating individual rights.

This civil decision follows a recent development in the Supreme Federal Court (STF), where Minister Gilmar Mendes archived a request to investigate Gaspar. The STF decision, based on a recommendation from the Prosecutor General's Office, stated there was insufficient evidence to initiate an inquiry into the allegations.