Opposition questions Zanin about Lava Jato, abortion and time frame

Lawyer Cristiano Zanin, nominated to occupy a seat on the Federal Supreme Court (STF), was questioned by Senator Sergio Moro (União Brasil-PR), with whom he antagonized when he defended President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in the Lava processes Jato, about his impartiality as the president’s lawyer and his opinions regarding the operation.

Moro also questioned whether he could consider his opinion in favor of media controls, which can be confused with state censorship. He also wanted to know about the nominee’s position on searches by police, on disrespect for state law, on the use of illegal evidence in lawsuits and on the “unjustifiable privileged forum”.

In response, Zanin said that his relationship with Lula was established over time as a lawyer and that he would not deny it. He ruled out being best man at the president’s wedding to First Lady Janja, although he cherishes his relationship with him, as with others, including senators. “In 2023, I was with President Lula only once, precisely to receive the invitation to the Supreme Court. In this meeting, there were ministers and the leader of the government in the Senate”, he said.

On the issue of suspicion, Zanin recalled the objective rules of impediment, which could be dealt with and faced, excluding him from the processes he defended. “Future processes will depend on the content and the Lava Jato label does not qualify the processes, they do not serve as a criterion for legal control”, he replied.

On the issue of freedom of the press, he said that it is something consolidated and that he analyzes international models on the issue. He discarded further comments on the other issues that are on the STF’s agenda, but stressed that he does not agree with the absolute power of the State.

Regarding the privileged forum, he said that the STF has already expressed its opinion on its restriction to crimes committed in the exercise of public activity, “but nothing prevents it from being modified by Congress”.

An initial manifestation by Zanin ended up being seen as a provocation to Senator Moro, when he pledged to be, in the Superior Court, an impartial judge, something he “always sought” in his career. Moro, a former Lava Jato judge, was declared a suspect to judge the cases against Lula, which led to the annulment of the convictions. Later, Zanin said that the cases against Lula were annulled because they were judged by an impartial judge, referring to Moro.

Senator Jorge Seif (PL-SC) tried to combine statements favorable to Zanin’s nomination with addressing suspicions about the behavior of the future minister in a possible issue involving Lula, in addition to the issue of abortion and the demarcation of indigenous lands.

In response, Zanin said that the right to life is expressed in the Federal Constitution and there is also a framework on the hypothesis of termination of pregnancy. Under the time frame of indigenous lands, he did not advance positions, saying that it is something that is being debated by both the STF and Congress.