Luiz Inacio ‘Lula’ da Silva speaks at the Metal Workers Union headquarters in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo State, Brazil, March 10, 2021. PHOTO: AP.
With eight votes in favor and three votes against, the majority of Brazil’s Supreme Court justices confirmed on Thursday the annulment of all criminal convictions against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, That added up to over 20 years in prison. By precaution, the decision was actually passed on March 8 by one of the Supreme Court justices, Judge Edson Fashin.
The highest authority in Brazilian justice confirms that former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is free to run again for the presidency.
When Edson Fashin, Federal Supreme Court judge and in charge of that court in charge of the anti-corruption operation Lava Gato that led to the investigation against the former president, a month ago, the former president was acquitted of the charges against him; He justified that the Curitiba court was not competent to judge him as it did.
Although he rescued him from the verdicts issued against him, the investigating judge did not reach anything about the content of the investigations against the former president. The ruling was quickly appealed by the country’s attorney general’s office.
Therefore, the approval of one judge was not sufficient, but the 11 who make up the Supreme Court had to vote on it. But the panorama was completely removed on Thursday, April 15th, when Fashin’s decision was approved with eight votes in favor and three against.
“I am calm. There are people who want to cause chaos, saying that canceling my operations is canceling Lava Jato. It is canceling my case. My struggle is with my own case. I argue my innocence. If someone steals it, he will be arrested,” he announced hours before the president The famous former state via his Twitter account.
Lula still faces further operations. However, these issues are far from final, and with the ratification of the decision on April 15th, the former president has legally clear paths to resume his plans to return to Planalto Palace. Earlier this month, the former president confirmed that he would run for president in 2022 “if necessary,” but he will wait until then to assess this possibility.
If his candidacy is confirmed, the strongest presidential duel will be between the icon of the left in Latin America and the current far-right Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, who has already demonstrated his intentions to aspire to be reelected.
By 8 to 3, STF confirms Lula’s convictions have been revoked in Lava-Jato, making him eligible. https://t.co/a5W2QhB2OY pic.twitter.com/rEXTKkf61d
– O Globo Brasil (OGloboPolitica) April 15, 2021
(With information from agencies)
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