Brazil's Supreme Court retains Calheiros as head of Senate

Brazil's Supreme Court (STF) voted six to three on Wednesday (Dec. 7) in favor of keeping Renan Calheiros as president of the Senate. The court decided to strikes down the individual and provisional ruling of Justice Marco Aurélio, which ousts Calheiros from the Senate chair. The decision retains Renan Calheiros as head of the Brazilian upper house, but strips him of his place on the presidential line of succession.

Justice Marco Aurélio voted to uphold his injunction. He criticized the Senate's decision not to comply, and ordered that a copy of his motion be submitted to Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot, with a view of having the Senate who refused to observe his request comply with it.

During the session, Justice Celso de Mello, the court's longest-serving member, declared he did not vote for senator's suspension when the Supreme Court started to try the motion questioning whether a politician facing charges could occupy the presidential line of succession. Mello's clarification dissolved the majority that backing Marco Aurélio's injunction.

Justice Teori Zavascki, who voted for Calheiros's suspension, criticized the justices who made comments on the attitude of their peers. “This brings about personal unease,” he said. Despite not having mentioned any specific case, the statement was motivated by the remark made by Gilmar Mendes, who told a journalist that Marco Aurélio should be impeached from his post.

Senator Renan Calheiros should retain the reins of the upper chamber until February 1, when the elections on the new Senate bench are slated to be held.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira