Brazil's Supreme Court will resume discussion on ending donations.
After the first session of the year, on February 3rd, Minister Teori Zavascki may release his dissenting opinion in the Supreme Court's judgment on the prohibition of donations from private companies to political campaigns. On December 12th, the judgment was suspended at Zavascki's request for a review.
André Richter
Reporter from Agência Brasil
Brasilia - The Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) will return to work in 2014 with several issues pending judgment, such as the prohibition of donations from private companies to political campaigns; the prohibition of the publication of unauthorized biographies; and criminal matters, such as the trial of the Minas Gerais mensalão scandal, in addition to the final appeals in Criminal Action 470, the mensalão case.
Following the first session of the year, on February 3rd, Minister Teori Zavascki may release his dissenting opinion in the Supreme Court's judgment on the prohibition of donations from private companies to political campaigns. On December 12th, the judgment was suspended at Zavascki's request for review. The score is currently 4 votes in favor of ending the donations. Seven ministers' votes are still pending.
The Supreme Court will also have to decide whether banks should compensate savers who suffered losses in savings account yields due to the Cruzado (1986), Bresser (1998), Verão (1989), Collor 1 (1990), and Collor 2 (1991) economic plans. The trial began in November, but it was decided that the votes should be cast in February.
The Supreme Court will also decide on decisions by various courts that have prevented the publication of biographies. The rapporteur is Justice Carmen Lúcia. In the case, the National Association of Book Publishers (Anel) questions the constitutionality of articles 20 and 21 of the Civil Code. The association argues that the rule contradicts freedom of expression and information and asks the Supreme Court to declare that the subject's authorization is not required for the publication of biographies.
According to Article 20 of the Civil Code, "the disclosure of writings, the transmission of words, or the publication, exhibition, or use of a person's image may be prohibited."
In the criminal agenda, the Court will have to decide whether to convict those involved in the Minas Gerais mensalão scandal, a case investigating the misappropriation of public funds during the reelection campaign of then-governor of Minas Gerais and current federal deputy Eduardo Azeredo (PSDB-MG) in 1998. Azeredo and Senator Clésio Andrade (PMDB-MG) are facing charges in the Supreme Court because they have parliamentary immunity.
The rapporteur for the criminal cases is Minister Luís Roberto Barroso. The other defendants are being prosecuted in the first instance of the Federal Court in Minas Gerais.
The Supreme Court will also rule on the appeals for clarification, appeals that still need to be considered in Criminal Action 470, the mensalão (monthly allowance) case. The decision reached could lead to more convictions being sent to prison or reduce the sentences of those already imprisoned.