Zanin: If Brazil does not comply with the UN decision, the election will be questioned.
Lawyer Cristiano Zanin Martins, representing former President Lula, defined the UN Human Rights Committee's decision that Lula has the right to be a candidate and mandates that the Brazilian government enforce his political rights as "a great victory." "This is not a mere recommendation. The Supreme Court has already recognized that international treaties supersede the law," Zanin reminded in a press conference this afternoon. "We expect compliance," he added.
247 - Lawyer Cristiano Zanin Martins, who defends former president Lula, defined the UN Human Rights Committee's decision that Lula has the right to be a candidate and that mandates the Brazilian government to enforce his political rights as "a great victory."
"This is not a mere recommendation. The Supreme Court has already recognized that international treaties take precedence over the law," Zanin reminded in a press conference this afternoon, held together with former ministers Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro and Celso Amorim, who was foreign minister during Lula's government.
"The Attorney General's Office has already stated to the Supreme Federal Court that Brazilian jurisdiction has submitted to the decisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, recognizing that compliance with its decisions is mandatory," Zanin emphasized.
"The Committee advises Brazil not to take irreversible decisions, since the UN may recognize the violations against Lula after the elections," he explained.
"We expect compliance," Zanin added. "It's important to remember that the Committee didn't become aware of this today, but since June 2016," the lawyer further emphasized. According to him, if Brazil "does not comply" with the UN's determination, "these elections will be questioned internationally."