Gilmar Méndez, Minister of the Federal Supreme Court, on Thursday (4) rejected the request from the Public Prosecutor’s Office to reconsider the interim decision that helps protect members of the court from the initiation of impeachment proceedings.
On Wednesday (3), Gilmard decided that only the Attorney General’s Office could file impeachment requests against judges – today, any citizen has this privilege, as the trial falls to the Senate once it opens.
The minister stated that the legal system does not take into account the type of appeal requested by the Arab Gulf Union, and said that the reasons for its decision still exist. Earlier, he highlighted what he called a “political attack against judges” and indirectly cited the case of Bolsonaro’s supporters using the threat of impeachment as an electoral flag.
Congress reacted to Gilmar’s decision, which will be adjourned to virtual plenary session on the 12th. The President of the Senate, Davi Alcolombre (União Brasil-AP), called for the STF to be respected to the legislature and mentioned possible responses to the court. The president of the chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), spoke of interference between the powers.
Episode 5 of the Café da Manhha podcast this Friday hears from University of the South Pacific constitutional law professor Conrado Hubner Méndez, a columnist for Bound. It examines the Gilmar decision and the reactions of politicians, discusses what it would mean to change the accountability law and analyzes when it is democratic or undemocratic to remove a minister from the STF.
The podcast is published on Spotify, a streaming service partner of Bound The initiative specializes in music, podcasts and videos. You can listen to the episode by clicking above. To access the app, simply register for free.
Café Da Manhá is published Monday through Friday, always at the beginning of the day. The episode is presented by journalists Gabriela Mayer and Maggie Flores. Produced by Laura Lauer and Lucas Montero. Sound editing by Thomé Granemann.