The appointment of André Mendonça, close to President Bolsonaro, symbolizes the rise of churches in the arcanes of power.
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He would have missed that for nothing in the world. Jair Bolsonaro was present, Thursday, December 16, to attend André Mendonça’s investiture ceremony, new Federal Supreme Court Judge (STF). For the occasion, the President of Brazil has complied with the obligation of a PCR test and has agreed to wear a mask. A rarity for this cupidosceptics, which stubbornly refuses to be vaccinated. And proof of the importance lent to the event.
m. Bolsonaro did not fail to remind him: the entry of this 48-year-old lawyer, former UNION General Counsel, in charge of defending the legal interests of the state, is a sacred political victory. André mendonça, not happy to be a conservative and a loved one of the president, is first and especially Pasteur Presbyterian. The extreme right leader thus fulfills one of his campaign promises: to appoint a “terribly evangelical judge” within the highest instance of the Brazilian judiciary.
The interested party was sworn in their ten colleagues and about sixty state dignitaries. “I hope to be useful for Brazilian justice and the federal Supreme Court and be a new servant and a minister who helps to consolidate democracy,” said Mr. Mendonça to the press, after lending oath and coated the traditional black toge of the “wise” of Brasilia.
Opposition of part of the Senate
The pastor will occupy the seat left vacant by Judge Marco Aurélio Mello, in July by the age limit of the institution (set at 75 years). It took good efforts to get there. Unlike the Consensus Judge Kassio Nunes Brands, designated at the end of 2020, the candidacy of André Mendonça encountered the fierce opposition of a good part of the Senate (responsible for approving the candidate proposed by the President). His audition remained blocked for months.
The vote finally took place on the 1 December, Mr. Mendonça prevailed by only 47 votes to 32, the worst score ever obtained for such an appointment. The pastor did not have spared his efforts to charm senators, going to resort to capillary implants and significantly moderate his speech. “In life, [I am] the Bible and Supreme, the Constitution,” he promised during his hearing, ensuring that he would defend the secular state, the separation of powers and even the civil union for same sex couples, authorized since 2013.
But his natural quickly caught him. Barely approved by the Senate, André Mendonça was eager to cross the place of the three-powers of Brasilia in order to greet Jair Bolsonaro, posing Hilare by his side in the presidential palace of the Planalto. Too bad for the separation of powers. Too bad, too, for secularism. “My first reaction is to give glory to God (…) It is a small step for the man, but a leap for the evangelicals!”, Played the pastor during his victory speech.
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