STF ministers praise Zanin’s appointment to the court – 06/01/2023 – Politics

The ministers of the STF (Federal Supreme Court) praised President Lula’s (PT) choice of his lawyer and friend Cristiano Zanin to compose the court, this Thursday (1st).

When questioned by journalists before entering the plenary session, Luiz Fux said that the nomination is “great”. Gilmar Mendes, on the other hand, stated that the choice is positive and that Zanin “is a qualified person who will join the Supreme Court”.

Luís Roberto Barroso said that the lawyer “acted with high professional quality in cases that were processed before the Supreme Court”.

“My vision of him is that of a serious and competent lawyer, who has shown dedication to the client and ethical conduct, even in the face of adversity. From my part, he will be very welcome”, he said.

Ministers Kassio Nunes Marques and André Mendonça, appointed by former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to compose the court, were also in favor of the choice.

While Nunes Marques also said that the nomination is “great”, Mendonça wished him success “on the path of the Senate”.

According to the Constitution, the president’s nominee must be approved by the full Senate to take office in court. Before, he will be questioned by the CCJ (Commission of Constitution and Justice) of the House.

“I understand that it is a prerogative of the President of the Republic to nominate. It is now up to the Senate to evaluate the criteria and requirements that, in principle, I understand that he has”, he said.

After being nominated, Mendonça had a low level of support in the Senate plenary when compared to the vote of the current ministers of the STF. Until then, the lowest number of votes in the plenary was from Minister Edson Fachin, approved with a score of 52 votes to 27.

If approved, Zanin will take over the chair left by Ricardo Lewandowski, who reached the age limit to act on the court on May 11, but anticipated his retirement to April.

Upon confirming the choice, Lula said that everyone expected him to nominate Zanin, not only because of the role he played in his defense, “but simply because he will become a great minister of the Supreme Court of that country.”

And he continued: “I know his qualities as a lawyer, I know his qualities as a head of family and I know his background. He will be an exceptional minister of the STF if approved by the Senate and I believe he will be and I think Brazil will be proud to have the Zanin as Minister of the Supreme Court.”

47-year-old Paulista, Zanin became Lula’s lawyer in 2013 and became known for defending the PT in Lava Jato processes.

He was seen as the favorite to be appointed to the court since Lula won the elections in 2022. In March of this year, the president, in yet another indication that he intended to appoint his lawyer, said in an interview that “everyone would understand” if he chose it.

The lawyer approached Lula because he was married to Valeska Martins, daughter of Roberto Teixeira, a friend and former lawyer of the PT candidate.

Lula’s nomination for the vacancy was the most time-consuming by the PT. In his two previous terms, the definitions came an average of two weeks after the opening of vacancies.