Dino says in a decision that exercise of the parliamentary mandate requires “physical presence”

Federal Supreme Court (STF) Minister Flávio Dino said on Thursday that the exercise of the parliamentary mandate does not include full-time remote work. The decision was given as a process involving former Deputy Chiquinho Brazão, but was read behind the scenes as a message to Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), who has been in the United States since February.

In the decision, Dino reinforces that the function of popular representation requires face -to -face performance.

“Physical presence is the rule. It is not able to enjoy the parliamentary function. Exceptions to face -to -face work must be episodic, motivated and duly ruled,” wrote the minister.

Eduardo Bolsonaro has not had a presence at the House sessions since July, when he finished his license. The prolonged absence puts the parliamentarian at risk of losing the mandate for excessive non -justified absences – there is necessary to be considered.

To try to avoid this outcome, the opposition articulated a maneuver this week: Eduardo was appointed minority leader in the House. The nomination, made by the PL, is based on an act of the presidency of the 2015 House, still under Eduardo Cunha, which allows us to pay faults of leaders and vice-leaders even when they are abroad.

Deputy Caroline de Toni (PL-SC), who was holding the post, gave up the leadership in favor of Eduardo. In a note, she justified the gesture as a way to protect her colleague, claiming that he is abroad for political reasons and not willingly.

The appointment still needs to be confirmed by the mayor, Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB), who classified the nomination as “atypical”.

Eduardo Bolsonaro follows in the United States, where he has been lobbying with the government of Donald Trump and was indicted by the Federal Police for attempted coercion of authorities involved in the lawsuits against former President Jair Bolsonaro. According to investigations, their actions abroad are targeted Brazilian democratic institutions, such as the STF and the National Congress.