President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made a slip when stating that Senator Flávio Bolsonaro would have contributed to the selection of Alexandre de Moraes to the Federal Supreme Court in 2017.
In reality, at that time Flávio held the position of state deputy in the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro and was not a member of the Federal Senate, therefore he did not participate in the session that approved the magistrate.
Context of the statement
During a recent address, Lula cited Flávio’s name to criticize the current composition of the STF. The mention prompted an immediate reaction from allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who pointed out the factual error.
- Flávio Bolsonaro only assumed his Senate seat in 2019
- Moraes’s nomination took place on February 22, 2017
- The Senate approved the name by 55 votes to 13
Political repercussions
Correcting the record reinforces the need for accuracy in speeches involving the recent history of the Judiciary. Lula’s advisors have not yet commented on the episode.
The episode illustrates how small chronological inaccuracies can be exploited by opponents in a polarized political scenario.