Dispute at the Supreme Court already threatens Barbosa's election.
Criticisms exchanged between Justice Joaquim Barbosa and former Supreme Court President Cezar Peluso are leading magistrates to consider the possibility of not electing the former, who would assume the presidency of the court in November; last week, he accused Peluso of manipulating judgments.
247 – Public disputes between former Supreme Court president Cezar Peluso and Justice Joaquim Barbosa have caused tremendous unease within the court. But not only that. Barbosa, who is expected to assume the presidency of the Supreme Court in November, following the mandatory retirement of Carlos Ayres Britto, has his election result threatened. Note published this Monday, the 23rd, in Power columnThe Folha de S.Paulo newspaper points out that the displeasure with the exchange of barbs goes beyond the jury with whom Barbosa has already had some kind of conflict. "In private circles, some ministers began discussing, at the end of last week, the possibility of not electing Barbosa to preside over the Court," the note says.
Another option for Barbosa's fate on the Supreme Court would be the so-called "PEC da Bengala," a proposed amendment to the Constitution that raises the mandatory retirement age to 75. If approved, the measure would allow Ayres Britto to complete his term as president, not being obliged to retire compulsorily in November, when he turns 70 – a rule that is currently in effect. In this case, less radical than not electing Barbosa as president, the minister would also not lead the court.
The discussions between the two judges always took place through the press. First, the rapporteur of one of the biggest trials in the country's history, the mensalão scandal, received criticism from Peluso through a... interview with the website Consultor JurídicoOn April 18th, he was called "insecure," accused of not having back problems – Barbosa had even taken medical leave because of the problem – among other criticisms. In response, Joaquim Barbosa granted interview with the newspaper O GloboIn the statement, he described the former president of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) with various adjectives, such as "tyrannical," "ridiculous," and "tacky." Going further, he also accused him of manipulating the results of trials, which generally provoked a defense of Peluso from the group.