Toffoli admits meeting with Onyx, but does not confirm support for pension reform.

By Lisandra Paraguassu

BRASILIA (Reuters) - At lunch this Tuesday, the Minister of the Civil House, Onyx Lorenzoni, presented to the Minister of the Supreme Federal Court, José Dias Toffoli, the main points of the pension reform that should be finalized this month, in a meeting described by both as a rapprochement to show the harmony between the Powers.

According to a source, the two discussed the proposal, just as Toffoli had addressed the topic last week at a dinner with the Finance Minister, Paulo Guedes.

The government's intention is to overcome the resistance of the Judiciary, which, in the previous reform attempt by Michel Temer's government, opposed proposals that directly affected public employees.

This time, Toffoli has already shown himself to be in favor of the need for reforms and even cited this fact in his speech at the opening of the Judiciary Year, in which he defended a "pact between the Powers" for the reforms.

However, after leaving lunch with Onyx, the president of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) stressed that dialogue between branches of government does not mean the STF endorses all of the government's measures.

"The idea is to have harmony, dialogue, and respect between the branches of government. Obviously, this doesn't mean that the Supreme Court will endorse everything that is approved. It's a dialogue based on respect within what the Constitution provides," said Toffoli.

When asked what the caveat meant, Toffoli stated that it does not mean agreement with everything, but the possibility of working towards reaching an agreement.

"This dialogue doesn't mean agreement with everything. For example, if a package or measures are sent to the National Congress, that doesn't mean Congress will rubber-stamp them, nor does it mean that whatever comes out will be approved. The important thing is that there is this dialogue to arrive at the best possible proposal, to produce the best possible final product," he argued.

The Chief of Staff stated that Brazil needs to "seek harmony" among the branches of government. "Brazil needs all branches of government to unite. And that was the reason for our conversation," he said.

During lunch—which was on the agenda of the president of the Supreme Federal Court but was only included on the agenda of the Minister of the Civil House after being discovered by the press—Onyx called President Jair Bolsonaro, who also spoke directly with Toffoli.