The Senate is expected to approve Paulo Gone’s reappointment after a hearing this Wednesday (12th), but the score is tougher than it was two years ago when he headed the PGR (Attorney General’s Office).
Barring any surprises, Gone will continue to lead the agency towards mandate until 2027. The senators see this vote as an indicator of the likelihood that President Lula (PT) will approve the name of Federal Attorney General Jorge Mesias for the STF (Supreme Federal Court).
In 2023, the current head of the Federal Ministry of Public Affairs received 65 votes in favor and 11 votes against in the plenary session of the Senate. Confirmation would require the support of at least 41 senators. This year’s flexible result was achieved because even the opposition, supported by former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) at the time, voted in favor.
However, the mood of the Bolsonarian faction regarding the attorney general has changed. Members of the group say it should be approved, but with less support than in 2023.
“The opposition will oppose it, but we only have 32 out of 81,” said PL leader Carlos Portinho (RJ). Minority Leader Sen. Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI) said: sheet I think Gonet will be approved without any setbacks.
The main source of Bolsonaro’s dissatisfaction was the PGR accusations against him during the coup plotting, for which the former president was sentenced to 27 years in prison. Mr. Lula signed the reappointment just before Mr. Gone was to speak in court. Aides to the president said bringing forward his reappointment would give the PGR more power and legitimacy amid high political and institutional pressure.
Another factor that explains the biggest dissatisfaction with Gonnet is the charges against Eduardo Tagliaferro, a former advisor to STF Minister Alexandre de Moraes.
Taliaferro assisted Bolsonaro when he was head of the TSE (Higher Electoral Court) and became famous in Bolsonaro circles after exposing messages related to Moraes.
It was already expected in both judicial and political circles that Mr. Gone would be aligned with the majority of the Supreme Court in the course of the coup plot. He was appointed PGR by President Lula (PT) in 2023 with the support of Moraes and STF Minister Gilmar Méndez.
The prosecutor was chosen by Lula in 2023 from outside the triple list selected by the ANPR (National Association of Public Prosecutors), like his predecessor Augusto Alas, who was twice appointed by Bolsonaro.
Gone, who served as deputy electoral law secretary during the Arras government, is not seen as a household name within the Ministry of Public Affairs and is better accepted internally than his predecessor.
The PGR chief also has the sympathies of Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP).
Gone, who is known for his thoughtfulness, has not publicly campaigned for reelection among senators in recent days. Most commonly, authorities visit senators’ offices to seek support from senators before such votes.
This Wednesday, Mr. Gone took part in a meeting of the First Chamber of the Supreme Court, calling for the conviction of the defendants who were part of the military core of the coup plot after Mr. Bolsonaro’s defeat by Mr. Lula in 2022.
The Attorney General of the Republic will be questioned this Wednesday at a meeting of the Senate CCJ (Committee on Constitution and Justice) scheduled for 9am. The board is scheduled to vote on whether to recommend the name to the full body for approval in a vote also Wednesday afternoon.
Opposition members who had indicated they would vote in favor of Gone pointed out that there would be no point in rejecting him at the plenary session, as Lula would also be presented with a name to replace Gone in this situation.
Powerful speeches are expected from the fiercest sectors of Bolsonarism. But the prospect of confirmation should soften the tone of speeches from senators critical of the attorney general’s work, so as not to offend the person who will lead the PGR for the next two years.
This Wednesday, in addition to hearings for the four diplomats appointed to command Brazilian embassies abroad, there will also be hearings for Anísio David de Oliveira Jr. and Flavio Marcus Lancia Barbosa, who were appointed to the STM (Superior Military Tribunal).
Mr. Alcolumbre confirmed the vote in the plenary session on Tuesday (11th), immediately following the hearing for Mr. Gone and other candidates. The Senate President declared, “I have confirmed the approval of approximately 74 senators (who will participate in the deliberations). There is a sufficient number to be able to deliberate with the authorities tomorrow (Wednesday).”
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