Supreme Ministers praise Dino’s choices for the STF and Gonet for the PGR

Three of the ministers of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) publicly praised the appointment of Flávio Dino by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), this Monday (27), to the vacancy opened on the Court after the retirement of Rosa Weber, in mid-October . The name of the current representative of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security was already considered for the position and was just waiting for Lula to make it official.

The first to speak was Luís Roberto Barroso, in the morning, during a Law event in Belo Horizonte. Without yet having his name made official, but having already been warned by Lula, the magistrate considered Dino as a “regarded career judge, he was secretary general of the National Council of Justice (CNJ) and was a highly regarded governor of Maranhão. If this is the president’s choice, I think it is a happy choice, made by a prepared person.”

At the same event, Edson Fachin stated that Dino “carries with him the experience of the judiciary, the experience as a legal professional, as a public man and, certainly, this experience when wearing the robe of constitutional judge will be converted into the activity of guardian of the Constitution”.

Alexandre de Moraes said, in the early afternoon, after the official ceremony, that Dino and the one also appointed by Lula to the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), Paulo Gonet Branco, as “two great jurists and competent public men”. “These are serious and republican choices and, once approved by the Federal Senate, they will contribute to strengthening our Democratic Rule of Law”, he added.

Dino’s appointment to the STF was made official shortly before Lula’s departure for Saudi Arabia, the first destination of the trip that will also pass through Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Germany. The president called an emergency meeting in the early hours of the day with Dino and other members of the government. The meeting was not recorded on the official agenda.

Lula’s allies claim that Dino’s appointment to the STF is intended to create a kind of political clash by choosing someone with “legal background” capable of being an influential judge. Dino denied, in several interviews, that he wanted to go to court.

Lula has always avoided mentioning one name or another, but has always stated that he does not want to have a “friendly” minister in the Supreme Court – although he has appointed his personal lawyer, Cristiano Zanin, who worked in his defense in the Operation Lava Jato processes.

In addition to Dino, Barroso praised the appointment of the deputy electoral attorney general, Paulo Gonet, to the PGR. The minister highlighted the “high technical and ethical quality” of the prosecutor, with whom he worked during his period as president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) between May 2020 and February 2022.

Barroso stated, as with Dino, that Gonet’s choice is also a “happy choice” to lead the PGR. The body is currently occupied by Deputy Attorney General Elizeta Ramos, vice-president of the Superior Council of the Federal Public Ministry, who replaces former Attorney General Augusto Aras.

Both nominations, from Dino and Gonet, are now awaiting forwarding to the Senate, where they will undergo a hearing by the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) and the plenary between the 12th and 15th of December.