There have been 99 requests to open impeachment proceedings against ministers of the (Supreme Federal Court) since 2020, when the court’s decisions on the fake news investigation strained the relationship between the Legislature and the Judiciary.
The minister is the main target of requests to be removed from office. There are 56 impeachment requests against him. Of the current composition of the court, the dean, , is in second place on the list, with 12. Former minister of President Luiz Inácio da Silva (PT), appears in third place (8).
Gilmar is the protagonist of the latest tension between the STF and Congress. On Wednesday (3), in a decision that helps shield his colleagues, he was dealing precisely with the removal of ministers.
The preliminary (provisional) decision caused a strong reaction in the Legislature. The president of the Senate, (-AP), arrived on the same day to speak in .
Until then, any citizen could file a request for impeachment. This is what defines the Impeachment Law, which provides for crimes of responsibility.
Section II of article 52 of the Federal Constitution says that it is up to the Senate to judge STF ministers regarding crimes of responsibility. It is up to the head of the Senate – today, Alcolumbre – to decide whether or not to proceed with the request.
The impeachment request mechanism has been used by opposition senators and deputies, the majority of whom are Bolsonaro supporters, as a way of putting pressure on the Legislature and public opinion against decisions that they consider unfair or partial. One of the main complaints is the prerogative of magistrates to impose individual (monocratic) decisions.
Among the recent cases of dissatisfaction among Bolsonaro congressmen, for example, are the decisions made by Alexandre de Moraes as head of the rapporteur for the coup plot, which sentenced former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to prison.
Survey of Sheet with data from the Senate also show that none of the current Supreme Court magistrates were free from attacks from congressmen and citizens. Those appointed by Bolsonaro, and , were less targeted. There are only 2 and 1 requests for impeachment.
Among those who are no longer at the STF, , who decided to bring forward his compulsory retirement and left the court this year, has 22 requests for impeachment. Requests were also made targeting Ricardo Lewandowski (now Minister of Justice and Security), Rosa Weber, Marco Aurélio de Mello and Celso de Mello.
