Brazil: Senate approves appointment of evangelical pastor to Supreme Court

The Brazilian Senate on Wednesday (December 1) approved the appointment by President Jair Bolsonaro of a Presbyterian pastor, former Minister of Justice André Mendonça, to the Supreme Court.

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This vote constitutes a victory for President Bolsonaro, who had promised to place a

judge

at the high court.

With 47 votes for and 32 against, the Senate approved the appointment of André Mendonça, 48, who will become the eleventh judge of the Supreme Court in Brasília, replacing Marco Aurelio Mello, who retired in July. .

This appointment is

André Mendonça told reporters.

he added.

Political calculation

Second judge appointed by Jair Bolsonaro to the Supreme Court, André Mendonça was Minister of Justice between April 2020 and March 2021, after the resignation of the former anti-corruption judge Sergio Moro.

He then held the post of Advocate General of the Union (AGU), which defends the legal interests of the State.

His appointment is viewed favorably by the most conservative sectors of Brazil, because the country's highest court, guarantor of respect for the Constitution, plays a decisive role in deciding on social issues such as minority rights, abortion or the carrying of weapons, which are very sensitive in Brazil.

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For the specialist in constitutional law Michael Mohallem, the appointment of André Mendonça responds to a political calculation of Bolsonaro before the presidential election of 2022.

he told AFP.

According to a poll dating from January 2020, 31% of the Brazilian population declare themselves evangelical.