Brazil’s PSOL Urges STF to Investigate and Remove Minister Augusto Heleno

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The PSOL (Socialism and Liberty Party) bench in the Chamber of Deputies lodged a motion in the STF (Federal Supreme Court) calling for an investigation and the removal of Minister Augusto Heleno, head of the GSI (Office of Institutional Security). The legislators said the note published by Heleno earlier yesterday contained “threats” to the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGR).

“There is no doubt that Mr. Augusto Heleno has no regard for the democratic rule of law. These are repeated and permanent actions of defiance of the Federal Constitution and threats to the other powers of the Republic – in this case, to the Supreme Court, and the Prosecutor General’s Office”, said the PSOL in the motion.

In the note, the GSI Minister complained of a note submitted by STF Justice Celso de Mello to the PGR,  requesting the seizure of the cell phones belonging to President Jair Bolsonaro and his son, Carlos Bolsonaro, in connection with a lawsuit filed by the PDT (Democratic Labor Party), PSB (Brazilian Socialist Party) and PV (Green Party) against the President. The STF Justice did not order this seizure, merely relaying it for review by the Federal Prosecutor General, Augusto Aras.

Heleno said the request is “inconceivable and, to some extent, unbelievable”. The Minister considered that the measure “would be an affront to the highest authority of the Executive Branch and interference of another Branch in the privacy of the President of the Republic and the institutional security of the country”. And that an order to seize mobile phones “could have unpredictable consequences for national stability”.

In its STF petition, the PSOL said that these “are serious and utterly unconstitutional statements, which have astounded everyone who is committed to the democratic order”. Among the party’s petitions are for Heleno’s “effective and relevant investigation and accountability,” the referral of the party’s petition to the PGR, order for the GSI chief to testify, and the “request for urgent measures to remove General Augusto Heleno from office”.

Source: UOL