Temer: crisis of powers is a "minor incident"

247 – The Vice-President of the Republic, Michel Temer (PMDB), downplayed on Tuesday, the 30th, the tense relationship between Congress and the Supreme Federal Court (STF). According to him, there is no ill-feeling; there was only a "minor incident" between the Legislative and Judicial branches, which has already been overcome. The events that generated criticism from both sides were the approval, in the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) of the Chamber of Deputies, last Wednesday, of PEC 33/2011, which gives Congress the power to block some Supreme Court decisions, and the injunction by Minister Gilmar Mendes that suspended, in the Senate, the processing of the bill that inhibited the creation of new political parties.

For Temer, however, "there is no conflict whatsoever." The vice-president also said he was certain there would be a solution to the case. "There is no ill feeling. There was a small incident, and I am very happy that there has been dialogue between the Legislative branch, President Renan, President Henrique, Minister Gilmar Mendes, and the Supreme Court, and I am sure there will be a good solution. There is no conflict whatsoever, I reiterate: there was a small incident that has already been overcome," Temer stated.

On Monday the 29th, the presidents of the Chamber of Deputies, Henrique Eduardo Alves (PMDB-RN), and the Senate, Renan Calheiros (PMDB-AL), met with Gilmar Mendes to request a reassessment of the injunction and, according to Alves, to make it clear that the constitutional duty of the Legislative branch must be respected. The two left the meeting, however, downplaying any crisis and speaking of "de-escalating" the relationship. "It was a good conversation, we will continue the dialogue. Minister Gilmar was kind, defended his points of view, we defended ours, and the conversation continues," said Renan.

The Senate president also stated that both left the meeting "with the conviction that each branch of government has an exact understanding of its responsibility and role." Henrique Alves echoed this sentiment, describing the meeting as "friendly and respectful" and stating that there is no intention on the part of Congress to strain the relationship. Earlier, Renan had spoken of an "invasion" by the Supreme Court into the attributions of Congress, and Alves said that Gilmar's decision created "unnecessary," "mistaken," and "absurd" stress between the two branches of government.

From the Supreme Court, Justice Gilmar Mendes stated that the full court should judge the merits of the action that suspended the bill on new parties in Congress in May. "The request [from Alves and Renan] was for expedited analysis by the full court. We will judge this quickly, soon. I will take it [to the full court for analysis] in May," he said. Meanwhile, Alves promised that an examination of the constitutionality of the proposed constitutional amendment will be conducted. This Tuesday, the Chamber sent more information about the bill to Justice Dias Toffoli, who had given up to 72 hours to receive more details.