The president (PT) for a vacancy in the (Federal Supreme Court), has expressed to senators a conservative view on issues such as abortion to try to turn votes. Messias has also indicated approval for parliamentary amendments, the main mechanism for congressmen to send federal money for works in their electoral bases.
The candidate for the STF is campaigning to obtain support and be approved by the . He will only take up a seat on the court if he has at least 41 votes in the House plenary. First, it needs to be subjected to a hearing by the CCJ (Constitution and Justice Commission) of the Senate.
The hearing and the vote. Messiah runs the risk of being rejected.
Politicians close to Messias or who had conversations with him after the nomination to the STF was announced privately say that the candidate for Supreme Court minister has positions against abortion and drug use.
The impression conveyed by Lula’s chosen one to his interlocutors is that he would not take decisions that would relax the laws on these two topics.
The positioning is important because it makes more conservative sectors of Congress, who tend to protest when the STF takes liberalizing decisions in these areas, more comfortable. Messias is an evangelical and his religious identity is one of the main arguments for gaining the sympathy of part of the opposition to the Lula government.
Abortion is permitted in three situations in Brazil: when the pregnancy is the result of rape, when the mother’s life is at risk because of the pregnancy or when the fetus has anencephaly.
Drug rules have caused recent controversy between the Legislature and the Judiciary. The STF fixed it at , and . The movement angered sectors of Congress who understand that this type of rule could only be changed by the Legislature.
Furthermore, the President’s nominee usually tells his interlocutors that, if he becomes minister, he will not criminalize politics. Congressmen and party leaders who hear the speech understand it as an indication that Messias does not intend to oppose the amendments.
As shown by Sheetsectors of the Senate. The fear is that he will become a minister and join the decision-making process.
Both the talk about political criminalization and the more conservative positions distance the image of Messiah from that of Dino, despite the fact that the STF minister has also already spoken out against the relaxation of rules on abortion.
The processes over the amendments turned Flávio Dino into one of the most unpopular STF ministers among congressmen. Opposition sectors tried to brand Messias as the “new Dino” to try to increase rejection of his name.
unlike other STF ministers. Silence, a Centrão member noted in the report, would end up helping the candidate become a member of the court.
Furthermore, the report found that Messias was questioned by senators, in meetings, about works stopped due to court decisions, normally related to environmental legislation, and about mineral exploration in indigenous lands.
The nominee classified himself as a developmentalist in these conversations. The indication is that it is neither in favor of stopping works nor completely against economic activity in indigenous territory. In the latter case, however, he made the reservation that it is necessary to consult the local population about mining activities.
A Sheet He informed Messias’ press office about the content of the report and asked if he would like to comment. There was no response until the publication of this report.
Messias’ supporters have argued, when asking senators for votes, that, if he is blocked, Lula would probably nominate another name that is more left-wing and difficult to reject.
It would be politically exhausting for senators to vote against, for example, the nomination of a black woman who is not as close to the President of the Republic as Messias, even if she has very strong progressive positions.
Senators upset
Lula’s nominee finds an adverse environment in the Senate. The president of the House, (União-AP) and several influential senators wanted the nominee for the STF to be (-MG).
Lula’s choice of Messias over Pacheco, the House that gave the PT member the most support in the Legislature during the current term.
Alcolumbre canceled the hearing scheduled for next week because the Planalto was not there to trigger the analysis process by the Senate. until you are sure that your nominee would have the necessary votes.
With the cancellation, after Planalto sends the necessary paperwork. This Thursday (4), the government leader in Congress, senator (PT-AP), stated that the hearing will be held next year as there would no longer be enough time this year.
Allies of the President of the Republic say that he should look for Alcolumbre in the coming days to talk and renegotiate his relationship with the Senate. The senator has shown his allies irritation with the case.
Meanwhile, Messiah continues his campaign. On Tuesday night (2), hours after the hearing was postponed, he met evangelical senators, STF ministers and other politicians at a dinner organized by senator Carlos Viana (Podemos-MG).
On Wednesday morning (3), he spoke at least with senators Beto Faro (PT-PA) and Nelsinho Trad (PSD-MS). He also met the women’s bench in the Senate, where he said he was committed to combating feminicide. “I continue my work in the same way,” Messias told reporters in a Senate corridor.
