In Boost for President Rousseff, Senate Approves Supreme Court Nominee

05/20/2015 - 09h16

In a boost for President Rousseff, the Senate approved on Tuesday (19) the appointment of lawyer Luiz Edson Fachin to the Supreme Court.

In spite of a campaign by the PMDB against Fachin, whom Rousseff had selected, the Senate approved the appointment by 52 votes to 27.

The government mobilized its allies, ensuring they were present at the vote in order to guarantee the minimum of 41 votes required for the appointment.

Renan Calheiros, president of the Senate (PMDB - Alagoas) worked behind the scenes to prevent the appointment. However, when it came to the vote, Rousseff emerged victorious.

Some members of the PMDB admitted voting in favor, as they did not consider it fair to vote down a Supreme Court nominee with judicial support simply in order to make a point against Rousseff.

Calheiros has been at loggerheads with the government ever since his name was included in the list of politicians being investigated in the Federal Police's Operation Lava Jato, which is investigating corruption at Petrobras.

He has become increasingly critical of the government and has masterminded defeats for the government in the Senate.

Just minutes before the vote on Fachin's appointment, the Senate rejected the appointment of ambassador Guilherme Patriota to the Organization of American States. This was to remind Rousseff of the political power of Congress.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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	Ueslei Marcelino - 12.mai.2015/Reuters
	Lawyer Luiz Edson Fachin is Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff's nominee to the Supreme Court of Justice