Insider

Supreme Court strikes down ruling benefiting pro-Bolsonaro lawmaker

Supreme Court Justice Nunes Marques has consistently sided with President Bolsonaro on multiple trials. Photo: Nestor Jr/STF/Flickr
Supreme Court Justice Nunes Marques has consistently sided with President Bolsonaro on multiple trials. Photo: Nestor Jr/STF/Flickr

A panel of Supreme Court justices overturned a decision by Justice Nunes Marques, who last week benefited an impeached pro-Bolsonaro lawmaker. 

Justice Marques had saved former Paraná state lawmaker Fernando Francischini, who used social media to question the security of Brazil’s voting system. In October, the Superior Electoral Court had removed him from office for the remarks, in a verdict that was considered a landmark precedent for dealing with misinformation on social media.

Justice Marques take his decision to a panel of five justices (reduced venues created to speed up proceedings and avoid a massive backlog in the Supreme Court). 

A 3-2 majority struck down the injunction. Justice Marques was only followed by Justice André Mendonça. The two were appointed by Jair Bolsonaro in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

In recent weeks, a gulf between the two and the rest of the court has widened, as the president heightens tensions between the government and the Judiciary.