Minister André Mendonça votes in Brasília and highlights popular protagonism in the elections

Minister André Mendonça, of the STF (Supreme Federal Court) and vice-president of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), voted in Brasília this Sunday morning (4). At the scene, he stated that the people are the protagonists of the elections. The magistrate became the center of the crisis that hit the court in September and that dominated part of the campaign debate.

Mendonça became one of the poles of the biggest crisis faced by the Supreme Court in its recent history. The internal division between ministers took on the appearance of electoral polarization in the last month. Mendonça's role in this scenario began in February, when he took on the role of rapporteur on the Master case.

On the eve of the first round, the minister began to be criticized by government supporters. Allies of the Lula government (PT) assess that the magistrate acts politically during the electoral campaign to benefit Flávio Bolsonaro (PL). The opposition began to publicly defend him.

The investigation files reached the office that was also already dealing with the INSS (National Social Security Institute) scandal. The dispute became internal to the court when Mendonça removed the confidentiality of a PF (Federal Police) report that names Alexandre de Moraes as the interlocutor of former banker Daniel Vorcaro, on September 1st.

At school in Octogonal, a neighborhood in the capital where he votes, he said he expects the population to choose their candidates responsibly and within their perspective.

"Today is an important day for the country. A day where the people are the protagonist and they must be the big winner. Our expectation is that the people choose with their own vision, within their own perspective and reality, who is the best candidate to legislate in their state, to legislate in our country and to govern our country", he said.

He arrived shortly after 9am to vote at a school in Brasília. He was received by the electoral judge responsible for the voting zone, gave a statement to the press and joined the queue at the section.

One of the local officials offered the minister the possibility of voting immediately, as she was an electoral justice authority. He refused priority and chose to wait his turn and then waited for about 25 minutes. Mendonça voted at 9:45 am.

During this time, he was greeted by some of those present, who congratulated him on the work he had done at the Supreme Court. Some asked to take photographs with him and two people applauded him as he left the school.

On the other hand, others said they were uncomfortable with the magistrate's presence and criticized his performance in side conversations, not directed at him. There were no complications or aggressive approaches.

The minister was accompanied by at least two advisors, five security guards, as well as security agents from the Military Police.