Despite the political crisis between the Executive and the National Congress, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he believed, this Monday, that the Attorney General of the Union, Jorge Messias, would be approved by the Senate for a vacant position in the Supreme Federal Court. Lula stressed once again that he is personally “working” so that the AGU obtains the support of the majority of parliamentarians.
“I believe that Messias will be Minister of the Supreme Court, approved by the Senate. I work for that and Messias works for that, I did not appoint just anyone. He (the Messiah) deserves to be there (at the STF)”, declared Lula, in an interview with SBT News.
The confusion around Messias’ nomination began with Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), who worked behind the scenes to get Lula to opt for Senator Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), which ultimately did not happen. In retaliation, Alcolumbre allegedly worked, behind the scenes, to block the attorney’s approval.
Asked about the hostile climate between the government and the president of the Senate, Lula downplayed it. “Nothing happened, I am friends with Alcolumbre and Hugo Motta,” he replied. “I have never approved, in my first two terms, so many things as I approve now with an unfavorable Congress,” added the PT member.
Then, still on this subject, Lula compared his government to the administration of Barack Obama in the United States. “What is the miracle (of approving things with an opposing Congress)? The miracle of democracy is the miracle of conversation. We achieved tax reform with an opposing Congress. We forget that Obama governed for eight years without being able to approve important projects. We don’t always approve what we want, but we won what is necessary to improve people’s lives,” he said.
In the same sense, Lula refuted that his government has the strength to intervene in the Supreme Court due to the number of ministers he has appointed in recent terms. This thesis is disseminated, behind the scenes, by right-wing parliamentarians, who see, for example, the siege of Minister Flávio Dino on parliamentary amendments.
“Almost all the ministers of the STF were appointed by me. If I had intervened in the STF, would I have been arrested? The STF is independent and it is good that it is that way, I also do not want it to interfere in the things that I do”, he maintained.
Finally, the president was questioned about the recent search and seizure, carried out by the Federal Police, against Mariângela Fialek, former advisor to the federal deputy and former president of the Chamber of Deputies Arthur Lira (PP-AL). Known as Tuca, Mariângela is the target of the PF for alleged participation in an irregular scheme to allocate public funds for parliamentary amendments.
“A President of the Republic cannot give an opinion on a search and seizure. I think we must learn to respect, I respect the decisions of the Chamber, the Senate and the Supreme Court,” he added.
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