Senators must approve Zanin’s nomination to the STF even with a connection to Lula

Shortly before the opening of the hearing of lawyer Cristiano Zanin at the Commission for the Constitution and Justice (CCJ), nominated for the Federal Supreme Court (STF), the climate among member senators was one of tranquility and confidence in the prospects of approval of the nominee before the start of the night.

Senator Veneziano Viral do Rego (MDB-PA), rapporteur for Zanin’s nomination by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), confirmed the expectation of approval by the Senate and said he expects elegant behavior from senators who reject the lawyer’s name, without nor receive it in the cabinet. “Zanin has shown balance in his responses and all this contributes favorably,” he said.

As for the issue of impersonality, which will be explored by the opposition, Vital do Rêgo confronted the case with that of Minister André Mendonça, for being “intimate with the Bolsonaro family and almost a spiritual leader of the first lady”. He defended the discussion by Congress of a new model for appointing STF ministers and setting their mandates, after the approval of the most important economic matters.

For senator Alessandro Vieira (PSDB-SE), the sabbath will be an opportunity for Zanin to clarify his relationship with Lula. “It’s something that has to be well defined,” he said. In any case, he understands that “the nature of the House favors Zanin’s approval, giving less chance of indisposition”. He also thinks that the controversies involving the lawyer’s name reinforce the need to review the nomination model.

Without wanting to declare a vote, Senator Laércio Oliveira (PP-SE), stated that Zanin’s traditional tour of the offices was positive for him. “In the conversation we had, he showed himself to be experienced and left evidence of the thinking he has for Brazil, indicating how it will behave”, he said, recalling that Lula’s prerogative to choose does not exclude the importance of questioning senators. In any case, Oliveira considered the environment favorable to the approval of the candidate for the vacancy.