Renan says Dilma and Temer 'lost power' with the PEC da Bengala (Amendment to the Constitution regarding mandatory retirement age).
"It is evident that the President and Vice-President have lost power, because in the Supreme Federal Court alone they no longer appoint five justices, but this is good for Brazil and good for the Judiciary," highlighted the President of Congress, celebrating the Chamber's approval of the proposal last night.
Karine Melo – Reporter for Agência Brasil
The president of the National Congress, Renan Calheiros (PMDB-AL), celebrated the approval of the so-called "PEC da Bengala" by the Chamber of Deputies last night. "It is evident that the President of the Republic and the Vice-President have lost power, because in the Supreme Federal Court alone they will no longer appoint five ministers, but this is good for Brazil and it is good for the Judiciary," he highlighted this Wednesday (6).
The proposal increases the mandatory retirement age for ministers of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), and other superior courts from 70 to 75 years. With the enactment of the constitutional amendment, Dilma loses the prerogative to nominate at least five STF ministers who will turn 70 by 2018. If none of them request retirement by 2018, the nomination of lawyer Luiz Fachin to fill the vacancy left by Minister Joaquim Barbosa may have been Dilma's last nomination.
Renan told reporters that the session to enact the PEC will be held tomorrow at 11 am. "[The approval of the PEC] means that, amidst the difficulties, the political power has opted for the non-politicization of the Supreme Federal Court. The ministers, if they wish, will remain for another five years, but only if they wish," he emphasized.