Brazil: Senate Approves Evangelical Pastor Appointed to Supreme Court

The Brazilian Senate on Wednesday approved the appointment by President Zaich Bolsonaro of a Presbyterian pastor, former Justice Minister Andre Mendonza, to the Supreme Court.

The development is a victory for the far-right president, who had promised to place someone “terribly evangelical” in the top judiciary.

With 47 votes in favor and 32 against, the Senate gave the green light to the appointment of Andre Mendonsa, 48, who will become the eleventh judge of the Supreme Court in Brasilia, replacing Marcus Aurelius Member, who retired in July.

This appointment is “a step for the man, a leap for the evangelicals,” Andre Mendonza told the press. “The evangelicals have helped this country and want to continue to help it,” he added.

Its position will be welcomed by the most conservative sectors of the population in Brazil, as the institution, which guarantees the observance of the Constitution, plays a decisive role in resolving social issues, from the rights of minorities to abortion and weapons, which are extremely thin.

The second Supreme Court justice appointed by Zaich Bolsonaro, Andre Mendonza, took over as justice minister between April 2020 and March 2021, following the resignation of Sergos Mouros, a former anti-corruption prosecutor. He then took over the position of Legal Adviser to the Government (Advocacia-Geral da União, AGU), equivalent to a ministerial role.

For constitutional law expert Misael Moalem, the appointment of Mr Medonsa was a political calculation by the head of state in the run-up to the 2022 presidential election: “It will allow him to maintain the support of the evangelicals,” he told AFP.

According to data as of January 2020, Brazilians are about one-third (31%) evangelicals. Evangelical is also Michel Bolsonaro, the wife of the head of state, who declares himself a Catholic.

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ