Dino seeks support from undecided people to confirm his trip to the STF

The Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino (PSB), is in a race against time to win, in the coming days, the support of up to 20 senators still considered “undecided” about his nomination for the Federal Supreme Court (STF). The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday (13) at the Senate Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) and, if approved, his appointment to the Court will be submitted to the 81 senators in plenary. At least 41 votes in favor are needed for him to occupy the vacancy opened by minister Rosa Weber.

Currently, the count on the opposition website (www.comovotasenador.com.br) records 25 votes against and 15 in favor, leaving 41 senators classified as undefined, more than half of the general total. However, according to analysts, a quick assessment of this list of “undecided” reveals voting trends.

The first impression is that the names listed point to Dino’s approval. This group includes senators clearly in favor of him, such as the rapporteur of the nomination, Weverton Rocha (PDT-MA), and the minister’s own deputy in the Senate, Ana Paula Lobato (PSB-MA), in addition to PT members Augusta Brito (PT-CE ), Beto Faro (PT-PA) and Rogério Carvalho (PT-SE).

Among those undefined are senators from government parties such as Efraim Filho (União Brasil-PB), Dorinha Seabra (União Brasil-TO), Daniella Ribeiro (PSD-PB), Fernando Farias (MDB-AL), Eduardo Braga (MDB-AM) , Luiz Giordano (MDB-SP), Jader Barbalho (MDB-PA), Marcelo Castro (MDB-PI), Confúcio Moura (MDB-RO), Jussara Lima (PSD-PI), Veneziano Vital do Rego (MDB-PB) , Zenaide Maia (PSD-RN) and Leila Barros (PDT-DF).

Despite representing a state linked to agribusiness, Margareth Buzetti (PSD-MT) is a deputy to the Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro (PSD-MT), and must vote in favor, following the party’s guidance. Likewise, Chico Rodrigues (PSB-RR), who was leader of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), but is at Lula’s base.

Although he is a member of former president Jair Bolsonaro’s party, Romário (PL-RJ) has followed the government in the latest votes. Laércio Oliveira (PP-SE) and Eduardo Gomes (PL-TO), former leader of the previous government, as well as Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), former minister of the Civil House, raise doubts due to the support they gave to the reform tax. Nelsinho Trad (PSD-MS), previously aligned with the opposition, has signed agreements with the government and continues to have an uncertain position. For similar reasons, Hiran Gonçalves (PP-RR), Wellington Fagundes (PL-MT) and Vanderlan Cardoso (PSD-GO) are also undefined. Irajá Filho (PSD-TO) tends to follow the party’s guidance.

Others without public definition include Fernando Dueire (MDB-PE), Ivete da Silveira (MDB-SC), Flávio Arns (PSB-PR), Lucas Barreto (PSD-AP) and Jayme Campos (União Brasil-MT).

Considering their positions throughout the mandate, Styvenson Valentim (Podemos-RN), Rodrigo Cunha (Podemos-AL), Mara Gabrili (PSD-SP), Oriovisto Guimarães (Podemos-PR) and Alessandro Vieira (PSDB-SE) would tend to vote against, but their positions have not yet been declared. In any case, these five votes are far short of the 16 necessary for the rejection of Dino to be consolidated as a majority.

As president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) may be called to cast the tie-breaking vote, with a tendency to vote in favor of Dino. Likewise, the president of the CCJ, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), must continue to support the minister’s move to the STF through his individual vote.

Given the secret aspect of the vote, it is expected that many of the undecided senators or those who did not respond to the consultation will be co-opted by the government.

Dino has little time for individual meetings

Unlike Cristiano Zanin, who was Lula’s first nominee to the STF this year, Flávio Dino faces time constraints during his visits to senators’ offices, in search of support. Furthermore, the Justice Minister’s pilgrimage was hampered by the emptying of the Senate throughout the week due to parliamentarians traveling to Dubai, where they participated in the UN conference on climate change (COP28). Despite these setbacks, there is still an expectation that approval will come to fruition. Dino stated that he had already spoken to approximately 50 senators, including some from the opposition, but without listing them and denying any rejection.

The minister’s search for support for the hearing through the Senate corridors was complemented by his approaches via telephone calls. Initially, Dino started his agendas with parliamentarians allied with PT, PDT, União Brasil, MDB and PSD, the latter being the party with the largest bench in the Senate, made up of 15 members.

Despite blunt criticism from the opposition, the minister was well received by some senators from the bloc, such as Hamilton Mourão (Republicanos-RS), on Monday night (4). “I expressed my position against the nomination, but we had a civil conversation. We are opponents, but we maintained cordiality,” said Mourão.

On the eve of the votes on the nomination for the Supreme Court, Dino encountered obstacles when trying to meet with the 15 members of the Evangelical Front of the Senate, through his ally Eliziane Gama (PSD-MA). A new dinner attempt is scheduled for Monday (11).