Bolsonaro vows to appoint evangelical for top court

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said he will appoint an evangelical justice for the country’s Supreme Court, because, he said, “the restoration of family values” must be a goal in every government branch of Brazil. “Of the two seats I can appoint a justice for, one will be terribly evangelical,” he said while participating in a service with evangelical lawmakers in the lower house on Wednesday morning (Jul 10).

Last month, when he criticized the Supreme Court decision to criminalize homophobia similar to what was done to racism, Bolsonaro had suggested the appointment of an evangelical for the court. Until 2022, the president is allowed to name up to two justices, whose seats will be available after the retirement of Justices Marco Aurélio and Celso de Mello.

Today, Bolsonaro praised the work of Congress members in the last few years. “You know how families have suffered in previous administrations. You were decisive in the search for the tireless restoration of family values,” he said. “How many attempt to leave us aside saying the state should be secular. The state is secular but we are Christians. Or, in the words of my dear Damares, we are terribly Christians,” he said, referring to Minister of Women, Family, and Human Rights Damares Alves.