The Eliana case proves that a judge's robe is not a political springboard.
Former combative minister of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), who gained national notoriety for saying that there were "bandits in robes" in the Brazilian Judiciary, Eliana Calmon is demonstrating a much more timid performance as a political entrant; running for a Senate seat with the PSB party, the magistrate is languishing at 5% in the polls; unknown to voters in Bahia and without allies to campaign for, Eliana asks voters to look up her resume on Google and relies on Marina Silva and Joaquim Barbosa as her main campaign supporters; competing for the seat against two professional politicians, former minister Geddel Vieira Lima (PMDB) and vice-governor Otto Alencar (PSD), Eliana Calmon is disappointing magistrates who harbor the desire to enter politics.
Aquiles Lins, 247 - Those who argue that the judiciary can be used as a stepping stone to a political career are disappointed with Eliana Calmon's example so far. After the first official month of the election campaign, the Senate candidate for the PSB party, supporting presidential candidate Eduardo Campos, is stuck at 5% in the polls.
Lacking political experience and practically no allies, Eliana is trying to win over voters by showcasing her anti-corruption background and featuring popular allies on TV. Her main campaign asset is vice-presidential candidate Marina Silva. She is also counting on her former colleague, Judge Joaquim Barbosa, to boost her voting intentions. Eliana is waiting for Barbosa to return from abroad so that, if possible, she can get a message of support on TV. "It's not his style, but who knows?" she says hopefully.
Calmon left her position as a minister of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) before the deadline to run for a Senate seat. While still a judge, Eliana Calmon caused a stir in legal circles when she served as the Inspector General of Justice of the National Council of Justice (CNJ).
She is the author of the controversial statement that there are "bandits in robes" in the Judiciary. The statement was released in 2011, shortly before the Supreme Federal Court (STF) decided how far the National Council of Justice (CNJ) could go in investigating magistrates. The then president of the CNJ and the STF, Cezar Peluso, classified the inspector general's statements as "frivolous."
Unknown to voters in Bahia, Eliana Calmon is vying for a Senate seat against two professional politicians, former minister Geddel Vieira Lima (PMDB) and vice-governor Otto Alencar (PSD). Focused on middle-class voters and liberal professionals, the PSDB member is trying to establish an image of "justice seeker" and has traded motorcades and face-to-face contact with voters for speeches. She asks voters to search for her resume on Google.
A lack of familiarity with the intricacies of politics has already caused some embarrassment for Eliana Calmon. In a recent statement, she said that Senator Antonio Carlos Magalhães (1927-2007), along with the PT (Workers' Party), was nothing more than a "petty thief of the Republic." The statement caused unease with ACM's family, who sponsored Calmon's nomination to the Superior Court of Justice. Today, she says the expression was unfortunate: "I respect the senator."
Without speaking the language of the Bahian electorate, without the support of allies, and without the financial structure to sustain a Senate candidacy, Eliana Calmon is disappointing potential magistrates who cherish the desire to enter politics.