Renato Freitas sues court against Ricardo Zampieri; request to remove video is denied
Renato Freitas filed a lawsuit against Ricardo Zampieri with the Electoral Court and requested the removal of a video. The urgent request was denied by TRE-PR.
The candidate for federal deputy Renato Freitas (PT) entered with a representation in Justiça Eleitoral against the councilor of Ponta Grossa and candidate for state deputy Ricardo Zampieri (PL). In the action, Freitas called for the immediate withdrawal of a video posted by Zampieri on Instagram and Facebook. The urgent request, however, was denied by Justiça Eleitoral.
The case, number 0603561-22.2026.6.16.0000, is filed in the Paraná Regional Electoral Court (TRE-PR) and deals with electoral propaganda on the internet and social networks. The documents point to Renato Freitas as representative and Ricardo Zampieri as represented.
According to the decision signed by the assistant judge Sandra Bauermann, on September 26, Freitas claimed that Zampieri published a video with content that, in the evaluation of his defense, would present facts seriously decontextualized and would have a defamatory and slanderous purpose. The request was for the material to be removed immediately from both social networks.
Video quotes “coline” of voting
In the content questioned judicially, Zampieri appears commenting on a “colline” with numbers of candidates and uses religious and critical expressions to refer to the choices presented in the material.
In the action, the defense of Renato Freitas argued that the statements would represent an offense to honor and discriminatory speech, indicating devices of legislation and resolutions that regulate electoral propaganda.
When analyzing the request in a preliminary form, the magistrate considered that the video presents manifestations of a "political and ideological" character, with use of religious and provocative rhetoric. For the judge, although the statements use blunt language, they are inserted in the clash of opinions between opposing political groups.
Justice denies immediate withdrawal
The decision states that, at this early stage of the process, no “knowingly untrue” facts, fraudulent manipulation or serious decontextualization were identified at a level sufficient to justify the urgent withdrawal of the publication.
The magistrate also stressed that the intervention of Justiça Eleitoral in content published on the internet must occur in an exceptional and cautious way, taking into account the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.
Therefore, the provisional emergency guardianship requested by Renato Freitas was denied. The decision, therefore, does not close the proceedings nor does it represent a definitive judgment on the merits of the representation. Zampieri was summoned to present a defense within two days and, subsequently, the autos will be forwarded to the Electoral Regional Prosecutor’s Office for demonstration.
Zampieri reacts to the action
After the action, Ricardo Zampieri reaffirmed his position and said he intends to continue making political criticism.
“To be prosecuted by the left is proof that I’m bothering. Especially for him, who is so disqualified, a church invader. I'm on the side of truth and I'm not intimidating myself. I will continue to defend my values and principles and question the political projects with which I disagree,” Zampieri said.
The letter of order subsequently issued by TRE-PR ordered the subpoena of the decision and the subpoena of Ricardo Zampieri so that, if he wants, he can present a defense within the time period established by Justiça Eleitoral.
The case is still pending and there will still be a merit trial.
