Lélis opens fire against Amastha's criticism.

Tocantins 247 - The president of the Green Party in Tocantins and former state deputy, Marcelo Lélis, released a statement to the press late Wednesday afternoon, the 6th, in which he rebuts the harsh criticism made by the mayor of Palmas, Carlos Amastha (PP), on his Twitter account.

According to Lélis, Amastha used "the lowest words" to attack and disrespect him with "defamatory" messages. "Unfortunately, it has become common for the mayor to have this type of intemperate attitude on social media – I emphasize," the text said.

Marcelo Lélis, who is married to the state's vice-governor, Cláudia Lélis (PV), also criticized Amastha's recent rapprochement with Governor Marcelo Miranda (PMDB). 

"Every day Mr. Carlos Amastha shows his true character. We saw who Amastha is in the last election when, in his best interest, the current mayor publicly and vilely attacked Governor Marcelo Miranda, the First Lady and Federal Deputy Dulce Miranda, and their family. All the people of Tocantins witnessed Mr. Carlos Amastha's attacks against the governor and his family, as they were public, mostly made on social media," the text says. 

On his Twitter account, Amastha criticizes Marcelo Lélis without mentioning his name. "And I keep wondering. How does a piece of trash like that survive in luxury without working?? He must have stolen a lot from the people of Tocantins. Put him in jail," the mayor says in one post. "Why, instead of calling me hot-tempered, don't you answer?? How can you live in luxury without NEVER having worked in your life?? Thief and bum," he says in another. 

Read Marcelo Lélis's statement in full:

"I come to speak to the people of Tocantins to respond, once again, to the disrespectful and intemperate attacks made by the current mayor of Palmas, Carlos Amastha, on Tuesday night (06), when he used the lowest words to attack and disrespect me with defamatory messages on a social network. Unfortunately, it has become common for the mayor to have this type of attitude – I emphasize – intemperate on social networks.

The mayor still hasn't realized that the people of Tocantins are an orderly people, who have in their essence respect and a democratic spirit in the debate of ideas and positions. But even being peaceful, the people of Tocantins are strong, they do not accept and do not bow to unhinged attacks like the one we saw on Tuesday night (05) from the current mayor of Palmas. I am a Tocantins native in body, soul and heart. I love this land and have lived here most of my life and as a Palmas native and Tocantins native I also do not accept this kind of disrespect.

Every day Mr. Carlos Amastha shows his true character. We saw who Amastha really is in the last election when, in his best interest, the current mayor publicly and vilely attacked Governor Marcelo Miranda, the First Lady and Federal Deputy Dulce Miranda, and their family. All the people of Tocantins witnessed Mr. Carlos Amastha's attacks against the governor and his family, as they were public, mostly made on social media.

But this disrespectful behavior from Amastha is recurrent. Recently, the Santa Catarina Court condemned Amastha for moral damages against Odilon Furtado Filho and ordered the garnishment of his salary as mayor of Palmas as payment of the compensation. Amastha appealed, but Judge Cláudio Valdyr Helfenstein did not grant the appeal.

We saw the real Amastha in the eviction of residents from buildings in blocks 1.304 and 1.306, leaving entire families homeless without any assistance. We saw the real Amastha when one of his first actions was to increase taxes in the capital, putting the population and the business community in difficulty. We saw the real Amastha in the brutal demolition of the João Paulo II Church in block 1.306, without even informing the Catholic Church or the residents of the block. We saw the real Amastha when he ignored the position of the merchants on Avenida JK regarding the parking fee, changing his role from manager to a mere tax collector. We saw the real Amastha in his anti-democratic demonstrations, disrespecting council members, politicians, or anyone who opposes the actions taken by the city hall. A true politician respects opposing opinions, has the discernment to analyze them, and the maturity to recognize their mistakes. Unfortunately, we do not have a mayor with this level of maturity and democratic spirit.

Only dictators cannot tolerate opposition of ideas and actions. The people of Tocantins have matured and no longer accept authoritarianism and disrespect. I will also not accept disrespect from the current mayor. I will take the mayor's slander and defamation against me to court, demanding exemplary punishment for his actions. I am a citizen, a father, and I know my obligations and duties in society. I know how to respect and I demand respect.

The mayor's intemperate behavior will not intimidate me. I will continue to act in defense of the people of Palmas and Tocantins. This is my commitment as a citizen and as president of the Green Party in the state.

Marcelo Lelis

President of the Green Party of Tocantins