FHC defends external control of the Judiciary by the CNJ (National Council of Justice).
According to the former president, the attempt to reduce the agency's power is an example of a corporatist measure.
Former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso argued today that external oversight of the Judiciary should remain with the National Council of Justice (CNJ). According to him, the attempt to reduce the power of the body is an example of corporatist measures. "I think the strength of the CNJ should be maintained," he stated. "Why was the CNJ created? Because there was a widespread feeling that normal mechanisms weren't working due to corporatism," he explained, arguing that the action by the Brazilian Association of Magistrates (AMB) should be rejected.
Following the debate "Programmatic Parties, Participatory Democracy and Change in Social Policy in Brazil," at the Ruth Cardoso Center in São Paulo, the former president said he views favorably an agreement between the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and the National Council of Justice (CNJ) for external oversight of the Judiciary. "I agree, provided it's an agreement with defined rules, but one that doesn't prevent the CNJ from being called upon," he stated.
Yesterday, ministers of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) proposed that the internal affairs offices of local courts have a set timeframe to act in cases of complaints against judges. The National Internal Affairs Office would only be activated after this period.