Good morning! Bolsonaro to select Brazil’s head prosecutor — and a new member of the Supreme Court. Congress approves Eletrobras privatization at the last second. Covid inquiry exploring corruption claims in Covaxin deal.
The race for prosecutor general heats up, but could be for nothing
Today, federal prosecutors will vote on who they want to see as the country’s prosecutor general for the next two years. The union organizing this informal election will then present a list with the three best-voted names to President Jair Bolsonaro.
- The term of incumbent Augusto Aras is set to end on September 26 — and his total alignment with Mr. Bolsonaro has earned him the scorn of his underlings.
Yes, but … The prosecutor general pick is the president’s prerogative and his alone. Mr. Bolsonaro has no legal obligation to choose one of the three best-voted nominees — nor has he shown any inclination toward doing so.
Why it matters. Next month, a Supreme Court seat will become vacant as Justice Marco Aurélio Mello retires. President Bolsonaro has used this upcoming nomination as a carrot to get absolute servility from legal minds around him.
- The two mainstream candidates for the seat are Prosecutor...