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Gilmar Mendes picks a fight with the blogosphere.

Following his falling out with former President Lula, Gilmar Mendes announces legal action to challenge sponsorships granted by state-owned companies to so-called "dirty blogs"; one of his targets is journalist Paulo Henrique Amorim, a frequent critic of the Supreme Court Justice's conduct.

Gilmar Mendes picks a fight with the blogosphere (Photo: Edição/247)

247 - At the center of this week's major controversy, along with former president Lula, Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes wants to silence his critics in the blogosphere and has already announced that he will file a lawsuit to request that state-owned companies stop "sponsoring attacks on institutions." Gilmar Mendes revealed his intention to journalist Jorge Bastos Moreno, of the blog Rádio do Moreno.

Read the report from the Rádio do Moreno blog:

Gilmar questions the use of public funds to attack institutions.

Minister Gilmar Mendes has just informed Rádio do Moreno that he will file a lawsuit with the Attorney General's Office, requesting information on the state-owned companies that use public money to finance blogs that attack institutions.

--- It is unacceptable that these unscrupulous bloggers receive public money to attack institutions and their representatives. In one specific case, I already pointed out to the Minister of Finance that Caixa Econômica Federal, which subsidizes the blog, cannot sponsor attacks on institutions.

(I know very well who the minister is talking about, but, as Jobim told me about this whole mess, "let those who are white sort it out themselves." Jobim, Heraldo, FH, and I will stay out of it. In Heraldo's case, and rightly so, he wants to distance himself from this blogger. I just didn't know that Caixa Econômica sponsored this type of blog.)

The minister explained that his decision is by no means intended to undermine freedom of expression. On the contrary, it is a fight against those who have not become accustomed to living within a democratic regime.

--- The right to criticize, to express opinions, must be respected. But attacks on institutions are intolerable --- added Minister Gilmar Mendes.