The president of the Supreme Court of Brazil, Edson Fachin, assured this Friday that the Judiciary will respond strictly to legality within the framework of the 'Banco Master case', the investigation into alleged irregularities and the leak of messages between Judge De Moraes and the investigated banker Daniel Vorcaro. At the same time, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has taken advantage of this scenario to insist on the need for a deep reform of the judicial system.
"The seriousness of the facts does not allow shortcuts. On the contrary! The greater the challenge, the greater the commitment to legality, due process, and constitutional guarantees must be," Fachin stated in remarks reported by the Brazilian state agency.
The crisis within the Judiciary erupted after a police report was released that includes messages sent by the former president of Banco Master, Daniel Vorcaro, to the Supreme Court judge, Alexandre De Moraes. As a result, the president of the Supreme Court emphasized that the investigation into these facts will proceed following the channels provided by the Federal Constitution and the rest of the legal framework.
"We will do what is right, at the time and in the manner required by the legal framework," he declared.
Fachin insisted on the importance of safeguarding the institution in a context of high tension and emphasized that no authority or power of the State can place itself above the Constitution, since "no circumstantial interest can prevail over the integrity of the democratic rule of law."
In parallel, Lula has once again defended a remodeling of the Judiciary and explained that he intends to discuss possible changes in the judicial architecture for the upcoming year, in case he is reelected in the elections scheduled for October.
In light of the current situation in Justice, he criticized that "no one, in the name of democracy, can use the position they hold for their personal benefit." At the same time, he called for greater transparency from constitutional bodies following the leak of the messages, with the aim that the Judiciary "does not lose credibility" before the population.
"What we cannot allow in this country is to legalize the industry of fake news, the industry of selective leaks for political and economic purposes. It is not possible," he lamented.
In the midst of this internal confrontation, Judge André Mendonça asked this week Fachin to authorize the opening of an investigation against Judge Alexandre de Moraes for his alleged relationship with the investigated former banker Daniel Vorcaro.
As a reaction, De Moraes filed a complaint against Mendonça before the Supreme Court itself, while the Attorney General of the Republic, Paulo Gonet, requested to invalidate the proceedings regarding the communications between both. In light of the increasing tension, the president of the Supreme Court has granted this Friday a period of five days for Mendonça and Gonet to formally express their views on the case.