Zanin’s vote on marijuana raises pressure on Lula for the next vacancy in the STF

stf

Supreme minister’s position contradicts PT base and feeds demands in the nomination for Rosa Weber’s chair

Brasilia DF) – In less than 24 hours, Cristiano Zanin’s vote on the decriminalization of marijuana possession for personal use reignited behind the scenes the fight for the nomination of the next Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

Part of the PT base, which was in the background in the discussions, took advantage of the opportunity.

Alleging opposition to Zanin’s vote, these sectors immediately began to demand more voice in the definition of the name that will replace Rosa Weber, who retires from the Court at the end of September.

In yesterday’s session of the STF, Zanin gave the first vote against the decriminalization of possession of marijuana for personal use. The score was five to one, before the trial was interrupted, at the request of André Mendonça.

The theme is dear to the PT base, which has historically defended the decriminalization of possession for personal use as a way to reduce mass incarceration and ensure equal treatment for offenders, without distinction of race or social class.

The PT’s complaints about Zanin’s vote came, in general, in a veiled way and away from social networks.

Another PT leader with free passage in the STF recalled that Zanin had already voted against equating LGBTphobia with the crime of racial injury.

Zanin’s performance ended up giving impetus to the argument that Lula’s next nomination to the STF should be reserved for a woman, preferably in line with the party’s historic flags.

But the profile goes against the signals given by the president himself in recent weeks.

Some names quoted for the STF have a political profile and belong to allied parties, such as the President of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD), and the Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino (PSB).

The name of the president of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), Bruno Dantas, would also have the potential to contribute to political articulation. That’s because his going to the STF would leave vacant the chair at TCU, which could be filled by Congressional indication.

By this design, the counterpart for the appointment of a man to the STF would come in the choice of a woman for the Superior Court of Justice (STJ).

The four-list list recently delivered to Lula to support the next nomination at the Court includes lawyer Daniela Teixeira, who has support in various sectors of the government. Daniela is the only woman on the list of names presented to the president.

*With information from CNN

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