TRE-PR multa Filipe Barros em R$ 20 mil por propaganda negativa contra Gleisi

Filipe Barros, the Paraná Senate candidate from the Liberal Party (PL), was fined R$20,000 by the Tribunal Regional Eleitoral do Paraná (TRE‑PR) for promoting negative electoral propaganda against Gleisi Hoffmann of the Workers’ Party (PT).

The fine was imposed by auxiliary judge Cláudia Cristina Cristofani after a complaint filed by Hoffmann’s campaign. Barros had paid for four social‑media advertisements that featured a video criticizing Hoffmann for not participating in an electoral debate.

According to the decision, the paid ads reached approximately 1.9 million impressions and cost an estimated R$26,500. Barros’ defense argued that the content represented legitimate political criticism based on a factual campaign event and that the term “covarde” (coward) was used by supporters, not by the candidate himself.

Judge Cristofani ruled that the advertisements exceeded the permissible scope of paid promotion. While the law allows paid internet advertising to promote or benefit the advertiser’s own candidacy, it prohibits using such promotion to amplify negative propaganda against opponents. The judge noted that Barros was present at the event where supporters made the remarks and that the campaign had contracted the promotion of the video, which included text and captions criticizing Hoffmann.

Consequently, the court imposed a penalty of R$5,000 per advertisement, totaling R$20,000. Barros is also prohibited from conducting further paid promotion of the content, though organic sharing of the publication remains allowed.

The ruling was issued in the first instance and may be appealed by Barros’ campaign. The case is part of the ongoing Senate campaign in Paraná, where online electoral advertising is governed by national electoral law and the regulations of the TRE‑PR and the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

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Article and image source: gazetadoparana.com.br