The former president of the Republic Michel Temer stated this Monday, 27th, that the minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Gilmar Mendes should not have responded to the criticism made by the former Minas Gerais governor Romeu Zema (Novo). According to Temer, the fight between the two is a sign that polarization has reached the Brazilian Supreme Court.
The former president spoke to the press before the São Paulo Development Forum, in Itu (SP). “I think Minister Gilmar should not have responded, because the more he responds, the more arguments he obviously gives for the challenge,” he said.
Pre-candidate for President, Zema has published a series of posts criticizing the STF on social media. He calls the ministers “untouchables” and claims that they are a “caste that is living in luxury while Brazilians are living in garbage”.
The conflict gained strength after Gilmar Mendes asked Alexandre de Moraes to include Zema in the fake news investigation for sharing a video satirizing the Court’s ministers. The piece addressed the relations between STF ministers and the owner of Banco Master, Daniel Vorcaro.
The former governor of Minas Gerais reinforced the virtual jabs and Gilmar Mendes used press interviews to respond and counter criticisms, such as the duration of the fake news investigation.
When commenting on accusations of judicial activism directed at the STF, former president Michel Temer said he considered that “the Supreme Court is not that much to blame”.
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According to him, the very design of the 1988 Constitution leads to the judicialization of political issues. “The Constituent Assembly dealt with all the issues, and all the issues, as a result, are taken to the Federal Supreme Court”, he stated.
The former president also attributed the polarization, which he calls radicalization, to the lack of dialogue. “Not only the internal dialogue within the Powers, but even the dialogue between Powers”, he said.
