President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced that he has selected Justice Minister Flávio Dino to fill a vacant seat on the country’s top court. Despite the hopes of many allies for the appointment of another woman to replace Minister Rosa Maria Weber, who resigned in September upon reaching the age limit of 75 for Supreme Federal Court justices, Lula chose Dino.
With Weber’s departure as chief justice, only one female jurist remains among the 11 members of the court. The Brazilian Senate is anticipated to vote on Dino’s nomination before the end of the year, requiring a simple majority for confirmation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dino implemented curfews and movement restrictions that drew criticism from the far-right leader. As justice minister, he has been prominently featured in Lula’s Cabinet, working on initiatives to enhance security at schools and combat the incitement of violence amid efforts to address a series of fatal school attacks. Dino also played a key role in the prosecution of Bolsonaro supporters who vandalised government buildings in Brasilia on 8 January.
The nomination of Flávio Dino by President Lula on Monday is viewed by legal analysts as additional evidence of the political polarisation within the Supreme Court. Both President Bolsonaro and former President Michel Temer have previously chosen their justice ministers to serve on the court. In response to the nomination, Dino expressed his “immense honour” on his social media channels.
