After the episode of violence in the Chamber of Deputies against press professionals which accompanied the withdrawal of the deputy Glauber Braga (Psol-RJ) of the Board of Directors, the President of the House, Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB)said it was studying changing protocols and said it had opened an investigation to investigate the events. On Tuesday, the journalists were first expelled from the plenary and then attacked by agents of the Legislative Police, as the parliamentarian was leaving.
The House Press Committee reported an “escalation of violence” in daily business activities.
Motta met with reporters today to discuss the episode. On social networks, he affirmed his commitment to press freedom: “I received journalists from the Press Commission of the Chamber of Deputies to listen to their reports and clarify the events that occurred on Tuesday (9). I also informed them of the opening of an investigation to investigate what happened with all the necessary rigor. The Chamber reaffirms its non-negotiable commitment to freedom of the press, transparency and respect for institutions and democracy.” he wrote on social networks.
In a report sent to journalists, the Press Commission of the Chamber of Deputies affirmed that there are images which prove the violent treatment of security agents of the Federal Legislative Police against press professionals. In addition, questions were raised regarding the interruption of the TV Câmara signal and the prevention of access to the plenary, in addition to the demands on the relationship with the professionals who cover the House on a daily basis.
“The management of the Press Commission understands that the attacks against press professionals inside the chamber are not part of an episode, but of an escalation of violence,” the text indicates.
Previously, in an official note released by the Presidency of the House, the Summit of the House declared that the episodes were “disturbing”. “The President of the Chamber, Hugo Motta, regrets the inconvenience caused to communications professionals and reaffirms that there was no intention to limit the exercise of journalistic activity. The information presented by the journalists will be integrated into the ongoing investigation in order to identify possible excesses in the measures adopted throughout the process of resumption of work”, indicates the note.
Tuesday (9), after MP Glauber Braga (Psol-RJ) was excluded by the Legislative Police from the Board of Directors of the Chamber, journalists were expelled from the plenary, access to which was blocked and reserved for parliamentarians. In addition, the broadcast of the session was interrupted by TV Câmara.
According to a Press Commission report, Motta said he ordered the first secretary, deputy Carlos Veras (PT-PE), to suspend the legislative session. According to him, the Committee note states, the first secretary suspended the session and immediately, TV Câmara cut the signal and automatically began broadcasting the Health Commission.
The information is also contained in the official note from the Presidency of the Chamber: “In accordance with Service Order No. 5/2022, which establishes the order of priority of official broadcasts, the interruption of a plenary session automatically results in the broadcast of the following legislative event. Thus, TV Câmara began to broadcast the meeting of the Health Commission, a standard technical procedure,” the text indicates.
Concerning the expulsion of journalists from the plenary, the official note from the presidency specifies that the procedure aimed to guarantee the safety of those present. “In accordance with Office Law No. 145/2020, the Legislative Police requested the withdrawal of advisors, civil servants and press professionals from the plenary to ensure the safety of those present. After attempts at negotiation and given the unjustified permanence of the parliamentarian in the presidency, his dismissal was necessary to restore order,” the text indicates.
Regarding the protocol for emptying the plenary, Motta said he did not know that it included the expulsion of journalists. When he learned about it, he said he asked the Legislative Police Department for the return of the press, but this was not possible because it was not included in the Depol protocol. Motta said he would study changes to this protocol so as not to restrict the presence of journalists in plenary and in the gallery.
The Press Commission also indicated that it had held meetings with representatives of the Legislative Police, advisors to the Presidency of the House and the chief of staff of the First Secretariat to address the acts of violence committed by the Legislative Police against journalists.
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