Sérgio Moro: He can, indeed, foster public debate, and by fostering public debate he can be vehement and may, at times, include harsh criticisms of authorities and institutions.
Sérgio Moro: Everyone in this Chamber who knows me knows I am not a Parliamentarian given to insults or to bluster, but public debate must be preserved.
And the Parliamentarian speaks on behalf of those he represents; he cannot come up to the floor in a straitjacket and face the risk of being prosecuted if he eventually makes criticisms or utters sharper words directed at other authorities or institutions.
Sérgio Moro: So, in this context, for us to consider greater procedural guarantees for Parliamentarians for—quote—"crimes of opinion", for example crimes against honor or any form of criminalization of a Parliamentarian's speech, is reasonable.
Sérgio Moro: Also because, as it has not in practice been respected—the immunity is material—the procedural guarantee often ends up being a necessary remedy.