Politics

Senate confirms Alexandre de Moraes as Supreme Court justice

Moraes had stepped aside temporarily from his job as Ministry of

Débora Brito reports from Agência Brasil

Published on 22/02/2017 - 12:52

Brasília

Alexandre de Moraes durante sabatina na CCJ do Senado — © Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil

The Senate approved the presidential Supreme Court nominee Alexandre de Moraes by 55 votes to 13 on Wednesday (Feb. 22). The candidate nominated by President Michel Temer will take up a vacant seat left by Justice Teori Zavaski, who was killed by a plane crash earlier this year.

Moraes had stepped aside temporarily from his job as Ministry of Justice since his nomination to the Supreme Court.

In order to be approved by the Senate, a Supreme Court nominee must get an absolute majority of votes on the Senate floor, or 41 votes. The senators voted in secret.

Translated by Mayra Borges

Fonte: Senate confirms Alexandre de Moraes as Supreme Court justice