Marco Aurélio calls for protests at the Supreme Court's entrance.
In an interview with Globo, the minister who, last week, maneuvered to postpone Celso de Mello's vote, says that the Supreme Court is "on the brink of collapse" and even suggests protests against the court next Wednesday; "society can demonstrate, because it has shown that it is not apathetic," he says; aligned with Joaquim Barbosa, the minister says there will be "disappointment" with the supreme court, but he did not show himself so favorable to the clamor of the streets when, for example, he released the banker Salvatore Cacciola, allowing his escape; has the trial of Criminal Action 470 become a free-for-all?
247 - The trial of Criminal Action 470 seems to have turned into a no-holds-barred fight. After maneuvering last week to postpone Celso de Mello's decisive vote by a week, reinforcing media pressure on the senior justice, Marco Aurélio Mello decided to act directly.
This Sunday, an interview he gave to O Globo even suggested that protesters demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court next Wednesday, when Celso de Mello will cast his vote – likely in favor – on the admissibility of the appeals for reconsideration. "People may be disappointed, and this could lead to protests. Society can demonstrate, because it has shown that it is not apathetic. Peaceful demonstrations are welcome; they are inherent to democracy," he said.
This type of irresponsible discourse, incompatible with that of a Supreme Court Justice, is more reminiscent of a political agitator. In the same interview, Marco Aurélio Mello predicts a cover-up. "The layman's interpretation is terrible, that the oven is really lit." According to him, the Supreme Court is now "on the brink of collapse" with the possibility of new appeals in the process. "Society began to believe in the Supreme Court and now, with this shift on the horizon, of a retrial, there is disappointment."
Just as a reminder, Marco Aurélio Mello was the minister who granted habeas corpus to banker Salvatore Cacciola, thus allowing him to flee Brazil. Cacciola remained a fugitive in Italy for several years, a country that does not have an extradition treaty with Brazil, until he was captured in Monaco. At that time, the Supreme Court minister probably had less concern for the clamor of the streets.
Despite the pressure, however, Dean Celso de Mello is preparing a lengthy opinion for next Wednesday, where he emphasizes that the role of a Supreme Court Justice is to safeguard the Constitution – and not to submit to the cries of potentially manipulated crowds.