The opposition leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Deputy Cabo Gilberto Silva (PL-PB), filed a request for the impeachment of Supreme Federal Court (STF) Minister Gilmar Mendes on Wednesday, April 22. The move follows the minister’s request to include former governor Romeu Zema (Novo) in the ongoing fake news inquiry.
The Spark of the Conflict
The tension between the minister and the former governor was triggered by a video published on Zema’s social media. The content featured puppets with simulated voices of STF ministers discussing the “caso Master.”
In the satirical video, a puppet representing Minister Dias Toffoli calls the puppet of Gilmar Mendes, asking him to annul secrecy breaches of his company that were approved by the Senate’s Organized Crime CPI. The puppet of Gilmar agrees, requesting in exchange a courtesy at the Tayayá resort, where Toffoli held a shareholding interest.
Zema republicated the video on X on Monday, April 20, stating that if a “puppet theater” is viewed as a threat, it suggests the criticism hit its mark. He argued that humor has always been used to criticize power.
Broader Legal and Political Offensive
Beyond the impeachment request, the opposition has filed criminal complaints against Gilmar Mendes and against Attorney General Paulo Gonet, who is accused of omission. An official letter was sent to STF President Édson Fachin, asking him to convince Minister Alexandre de Moraes to close the fake news inquiry.
The political atmosphere is further charged as Romeu Zema is a pre-candidate for the presidency. During the announcement of the impeachment request, Cabo Gilberto Silva jokingly referred to Zema as a potential vice-presidential candidate on a ticket with Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ).
Additional Impeachment Requests
Simultaneously, Deputy Hélio Lopes (PL-RJ) filed a criminal complaint and an impeachment request against Justice Minister Wellington César Lima e Silva. This action stems from alleged connivance or omission regarding a Federal Police (PF) delegate who returned from the U.S. Under accusations of irregular activity in extradition procedures.
Opposition members, including Deputy Marcel Van Hattem (Novo-RS), have also targeted PF Director-General Andrei Passos. They allege illegal actions and falsehoods regarding the case of former federal deputy Alexandre Ramagem, who was arrested by ICE and nearly deported.
Potential Next Steps
The request against Gilmar Mendes joins other proposals against STF ministers that currently remain shelved by Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP). Given that Cabo Gilberto Silva acknowledged there is no current opposition majority in the Senate, the proposal may face similar stagnation.
Although, the opposition may continue to file additional requests as part of a broader strategy. The situation could evolve if new political alliances shift the balance of power within the Senate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the impeachment request against Gilmar Mendes filed?
The request was filed because Minister Gilmar Mendes sought the inclusion of former governor Romeu Zema in the fake news inquiry.
What was the content of the video that caused the dispute?
The video used puppets and simulated voices to satirize STF ministers, depicting a conversation about the “caso Master” and a request to annul secrecy breaches in exchange for a courtesy at the Tayayá resort.
Is there a high probability of the impeachment moving forward in the Senate?
Deputy Cabo Gilberto Silva stated that there is currently no opposition majority in the Senate to move the proposal forward, though he indicated that more requests will be filed.
Do you believe satirical content should be protected as free speech or treated as a legal threat to judicial institutions?
