Temer nominates Aécio's lawyer in the Lava Jato corruption scandal as Minister of Justice.

Temer continues to use two basic criteria to choose his ministers, as his right-hand man, Eliseu Padilha, has already made explicit without a shred of shame: votes in Congress and shielding allies from investigations.

This was the guiding principle behind the choice of Carlos Velloso for the Ministry of Justice: the intention is to kill two birds with one stone.

Behind the respectable facade of former president of the Supreme Federal Court, presented as a kind of safe conduct, Velloso is a practicing lawyer whose firm defends Aécio Neves in the Lava Jato corruption scandal.

With a stroke of the pen, Temer intends to promote the lawyer for someone under investigation in Lava Jato to head the ministry to which the Federal Police, which is in charge of the Lava Jato investigations, is subordinate.

And who knows the intricacies and ministers of the Supreme Federal Court inside and out.

It's impossible not to suspect that Aécio will receive, through Velloso, privileged information about the progress of the investigations against him, whether from the Federal Police or the Supreme Court. Just like Velloso's firm, from which he will obviously formally separate. Or the firm that replaces his in this case – after all, maintaining appearances is part of the game.

The conflict of interest is evident, except for Aécio, who nominated him, for Temer and Padilha who approved the nomination, and for Velloso, who accepted it.

From a political standpoint, it's a perfect arrangement for both the president of the PMDB and the president of the PSDB: once the appointment is finalized, Aécio will have no choice but to support any proposal from the Planalto Palace, no matter how outlandish it may be.

For the PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party) deputies and senators, this means the obligation to align themselves with Aécio and Temer even on the most unpopular proposals, such as the pension reform, which could result in electoral failure in the next elections.

From an ethical standpoint, it's another step down the ladder in the process of moral destruction in Brazil.

Sinking the country and the PSDB party are concerns that are far removed from the backroom deals of Temer and Aécio.

It remains to be seen what the voters have to say.