The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ordered the Portuguese state to pay 10,000 euros to Pedro Arroja for violating freedom of expression in which the economist was found guilty of defaming MEP Paulo Rangel.
The ECtHR decision, published on Tuesday, requires the resumption of the process and completely overturns the decision of the Court of Appeal of Porto (TRP), which in March 2019 increased the punishment imposed by the Matosinhos court (first instance) on Arroja and also sentenced him to pay Rangel 10,000 euros for libel.
At issue were comments that Pedro Arroja made on May 25, 2015 in the Porto channel regarding the legal work on the construction of the future pediatric ward of the São João Hospital in Porto, which prompted the trial court to convict him in June. 12 December 2018 for crimes against a law firm with which Paulo Rangel was associated (a fine of 4,000 euros and compensation of 5,000 euros), but to release him from charges of aggravated libel against the MEP himself.