The last ten days were full of upheavals for the members of the so-called “Republic of Curitiba”. Last Tuesday (16), the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) annulled the mandate of federal deputy Deltan Dallagnol (Podemos-PR), who headed the Lava Jato operation before officially entering politics. Already this Monday (22), the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region (TRF-4) removed Judge Eduardo Appio from his duties on the 13th Criminal Court of Curitiba, where the operation processes are being processed.
The two decisions repositioned lavajatismo on the national scene. With Dallagnol out of Congress, the operation lost strength in institutional politics – an area it officially entered in 2022, with the election of the former prosecutor himself and also of former judge Sergio Moro (União-PR) to the Senate. On the other hand, Lava Jato regained space in the Judiciary after Appio’s removal and shielded itself, for the time being, from suspicions about it.
:: Justice system delivers the head of Dallagnol: the vile executioner of the ‘Republic of Curitiba’ ::
Appio took over the 13th Court of Curitiba in February this year. Since then, he has been willing to listen to those investigated by Lava Jato who have always complained that they are being victims of persecution or abuse in the operation. He summoned to testify, for example, the lawyer Rodrigo Tacla Duran, who says he was extorted by the operation.
Tacla’s accusations against Lava Jato were forwarded by Appio to the Federal Supreme Court (STF), as they cited Senator Moro e Dallagnol, who was a deputy and had the right to a privileged forum. With this, they reinforced the need to investigate possible crimes committed by the then members of Lava Jato.
Appio, however, was cautiously removed. He is suspected of accessing the Federal Justice system to obtain the telephone number of a lawyer who is the son of a TRF-4 judge and question him about taxes in a call. The phone call was seen as a threat.
:: Tacla Duran accuses Moro and Dallagnol of corruption, and the case goes to the STF ::
Without Appio on the 13th Court, the substitute judge Gabriela Hardt, who worked with Moro, took over the conduct of the Lava Jato processes. Hardt has already judged processes reinforcing understandings of the former colleague. She condemned President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) by transcribing excerpts from a decision written by Moro. Given her professional history, no one believes she will continue to voice critics of the operation. Tacla, incidentally, regretted and criticized Appio’s departure in an interview with UOL.
Criminal lawyer Antônio Carlos de Almeida Castro, known as Kakay, also criticized the TRF-4 decision, in a note. He has been denouncing abuses by Lava Jato for years. According to Kakay, Appio’s departure demonstrates that Lava Jato is still active behind the scenes.
:: Duran’s speech should lead to Lava Jato corruption investigation ::
“Removing the judge from his jurisdiction for an act that, by all indications, is not serious enough to do so, is an unspeakable abuse. It is the judiciary disdaining the judiciary,” he said. “It is regrettable that this discussion about the power of the still existing Lava Jato, as this decision clearly demonstrates that Lava Jato is still alive, can somehow make people doubt the seriousness of the Judiciary.”
Tânia Mandarino, a member of the Advogadas e Advogados pela Democracia (Caad) collective, also believes that Lava Jato is still alive, despite suspicions against the operation and the impeachment of Dallagnol. She reinforced that Appio’s removal and his replacement by Hardt should temporarily reduce the pressure on the operation.
“Lava Jato regained power (in court), but in my assessment this situation is temporary,” she said, in an interview with Brazil in fact.
Tânia also stated that, despite the wear and tear, Lava Jato’s power is still considerable. It can therefore cause problems for its opponents.
“Lava Jato is a monster, a dying dragon. It is wagging its tail. It can still destroy a lot of things along the way”, he said.
The Federal Court of Paraná, where Appio works, did not comment on his departure. Appio has already stated that he trusts his case will be reversed.
:: Motorcade without cars closes Deltan Dallagnol’s impeachment week ::
Dallagnol has already participated in acts in Curitiba held in his support. He has already declared that he is outraged by the removal of his mandate and that he will “fight for my purpose in life to serve God and the Brazilian people”.
Moro has shown support for Dallagnol and criticized Eduardo Appio.
Read more: Surrounded by the extreme right, Dallagnol says goodbye to the Chamber by attacking the TSE
Editing: Nicolau Soares
