Bolsonaro says Brazil’s new Supreme Court Justice to be named only in July

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday, June 21, said in a conversation with supporters that he will appoint one more name for the Federal Supreme Court (STF) only in July, when Justice Marco Aurélio Mello will leave the Court. Behind the scenes, the president has considered submitting the replacement’s name before the Justice leaves the STF.

Last week, Marco Aurélio backtracked from his decision to anticipate retirement to July 5 and notified the presidency of the Court that he would remain until July 12, when he turns 75. When leaving the Alvorada Palace, Bolsonaro repeated that whoever is elected in 2022 will appoint two more Supreme Court Justices soon after taking office.

The president also reiterated his support for the printed ballot and repeated that only fraud would cause him to lose the 2022 presidential election to ex-president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – whom he referred to as “nine-fingers.”

“Only through fraud will nine fingers come back. If Congress passes and enacts it, we will have printed ballots. It will not be up to one citizen to prevent the vote from being printed. You can forget about it,” he added, in a reference to the potential judicialization of the printed vote bill should it be passed by Congress.

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