Ministers of the (Supreme Federal Court) complained about the government’s stance () in the crisis and the role of rapporteur of the inquiry into Banco Master in the court. The magistrates sent an assessment to the Palácio do Planalto that PT members were trying to exploit the case politically.
The ministers’ criticisms directed at the PF mainly concern the material delivered to the president of the court, Edson Fachin, between Toffoli and former banker Daniel Vorcaro. For the magistrates, this investigation was carried out illegally because it did not have authorization from the STF.
Furthermore, members of the Supreme Court told Planalto that the government tried to take political advantage of the situation by disclosing, in a private manner, reports that Lula wanted Toffoli to leave the rapporteur and that he saw wear and tear in the court.
The uneasiness has taken shape in the STF, and court ministers are considering carrying out an investigation into the conduct of the PF and the court in an inquiry, according to three sources heard by the Sheet. As the PF and Revenue are under the command of trusted government figures, the magistrates extended the responsibility to Planalto.
After receiving the messages, the government installed a damage reduction operation. Planalto instructed ministers to avoid any political tone in comments on the situation in the Master case, without criticizing the work of magistrates. Even in private conversations, the official discourse would be that the PF must have technical action.
Politicians from the center who have a good presence in the STF assess that the episode of Toffoli’s removal from the rapporteurship of the process involving the could undermine Lula’s relationship with the Court, which has been the government’s main guarantor since the end of the Jair Bolsonaro administration (), acting to assist in governability in the face of a .
A party leader who spoke with STF ministers during the crisis stated that the opposition did not understand that they were aiming their weapons at the wrong targets when calling for demonstrations for the impeachment of Toffoli and the minister for March 1st.
After the conversations, he says that the ministers would have already changed sides and are now more uncomfortable with the current government than sympathetic to the PT administration.
Lula’s relationship with the ministers since the choice of Jorge Messias for the vacancy opened with the early retirement of Luís Roberto Barroso from the court. The group formed by Moraes, Gilmar Mendes, Toffoli and Flávio Dino advocated for the appointment of the former president of Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG).
The investigations into Toffoli by the PF, which on Monday (9) into the minister’s relations with Banco Master to remove him from reporting on the process, worsened the complaints. The STF rejected the minister’s suspicion, who voluntarily withdrew from the process. André Mendonça was selected to take his place.
For the ministers, the PF acted illegitimately by investigating Toffoli –who has jurisdictional prerogative– without judicial authorization. Some of them also argue that the Federal Revenue Service is participating in these leaks, which has led to criticism of the Minister of Finance (PT).
Toffoli admitted that he received money from the sale of his stake in a resort, but denied that he had a friendly relationship with , owner of Master.
The leadership of Congress and the center and contain the discussion about impeachment because of Master’s case. In phone calls throughout Thursday (12) with Toffoli and other ministers, party leaders and the Congress leadership sought to reassure the magistrate and stated that the Legislature will not take any initiative to investigate him or put pressure on him to leave his position.
They criticize what they call “Lava Jato 2”, with the “selective leakage” of information against politicians and Supreme Court ministers and the “pre-judgment” of Toffoli by public opinion. One of them states that the STF became the target of the same procedures that they already experienced with the PF.
A group of parliamentarians defends behind the scenes the creation of a (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) to investigate the leaks, but no one has yet taken the initiative to collect signatures to propose the collegiate – and three requests for CPI on Banco Master await a decision from the presidents of the Senate, (-AP), and , (-PB), which .
In addition to complaints about the PF’s performance, the center’s leadership also has the Federal Revenue Service on its radar. Politicians say that investigations are being directed to attack political opponents and information is being leaked to the press to place them under suspicion.
Haddad has praised the role of the Federal Revenue under the management of Robinson Barreirinhas and stated that the ongoing operations have followed the legality to reach the “real thieves of the nation”. The minister must leave office by April to run in this year’s elections.
