The Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Edson Fachin took office as president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) on Tuesday night (22). At the same ceremony, Alexandre de Moraes, also a minister of the STF, was sworn in as vice president of the Court.
In his speech, Fachin defended the conduct of the 2022 majority elections by the TSE using electronic voting machines. “There are many challenges to be faced. The first is to protect and honor the truth about the integrity of Brazilian elections”. He should lead a large part of the preparation process for the election, but the elections will already take place under the presidency of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, who takes over in August.
Also during the ceremony, Fachin stated that it is up to the TSE “to repel moral blindness and encourage the elevation of civic spirit and good faith conduct that opens the door to the necessary respectful and dialogic behavior”.
The president of the Court and his successor will head the court after a vote in the Chamber of Deputies on a Proposed Amendment to the Constitution (PEC) that sought to make the printed vote mandatory in the country. The proposal, defended by President Jair Bolsonaro, was rejected in the House and did not go to the Senate.
“Within this context, the malicious attacks against the elections constitute in themselves indirect attacks on democracy itself, taking into account that the disinformation circuit drives extremism. Brazil deserves more, the Electoral Justice is crying out for respect and warning: it will not surrender”, said Fachin.
The ceremony was attended, by videoconference, of the presidents of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Luiz Fux, of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, and of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco. Bolsonaro did not attend the inauguration and was represented by the vice president of the Republic, Hamilton Mourão, who also participated remotely.
The president of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), José Alberto Simonetti, defended the TSE and democracy in his speech and criticized the fake news. The Minister of the Court and Inspector General of Electoral Justice, Minister Mauro Campbell Marques, was another to speak in defense of the current electoral system and the performance of the court.
profiles
Born in Rondinha (RS), Edson Fachin has been the titular minister of the TSE since August 16, 2018, but has been a substitute minister since June 2016. He holds a doctorate in law from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP). He has a postdoctoral degree in Canada and is the author of several books and published articles. He took office as minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) in June 2015.
Alexandre de Moraes was born in São Paulo (SP). He has been an effective minister of the TSE since June 2, 2020, after serving as a substitute minister since April 2017. He holds a doctorate in State law, a professorship in constitutional law and is the author of books and academic articles in various areas of law. He has served as a prosecutor, lawyer, professor of constitutional law, legal adviser and minister of justice. He took office as Minister of the STF in March 2017.
Composition
The TSE is made up of at least seven ministers. Three of them are from the STF, one of whom is the president of the Court; two ministers are from the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), one of whom is the general inspector of the Electoral Justice; and two jurists come from the lawyer class, appointed by the President of the Republic.
