Brazil: Judge Issues Injunction Against Lula Days After Joinging Anti-Government March

A federal judge in Brazil has issued an injunction to annul the appointment of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as Minister of the Presidency, teleSUR Brazil correspondent Adriana Robreño reported.

"However, a higher court must approve the measure," reported Robreño.

The ruling judge has participated in opposition protests, calling into question his neutrality and objectivity.

Juez que pide medida cautelar para impedir a #Lula ser ministro particip en manifestaciones de la oposición ������������ pic.twitter.com/1Emzm5GFr3

— Adriana Robreño (@AdrianateleSUR) March 17, 2016

Lula was sworn in Thursday morning as the chief of staff to the current head of state Dilma Rousseff, but a Brazilian court is seeking to block the appointment.

Soon after the swearing-in ceremony, the federal judge in Brasilia issued an injunction to suspend the appointment on the grounds it prevented "the free exercise of justice." The government will now be allowed to appeal the injunction in a higher court.

At the inaugural event at the Presidential Palace in Brasilia, however, Workers’ Party lawmakers embraced the return of their party’s founder to the halls of power.

"My government will be in a better position to put Brazil back on track with Lula at my side," President Rousseff stated in a press conference on Thursday.

The two politicians have been close for decades. Lula was Rousseff's political mentor and she was his hand-picked successor.

"Lula and I have always been close, and I am proud to have worked as the Chief-of-Staff during the Lula administration," Rousseff said.

#ENVIDEO | Así firmaron @diImabr y @LulapeloBrasil su posesión como ministro de la Casa Civil #Brasil pic.twitter.com/RV4G4JMuO3

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) March 17, 2016

The moment Lula officially became Rousseff's chief of staff.

Lula’s appointment comes after federal Judge Sergio Moro was given jurisdiction to rule over money laundering charges presented against the former president.

Opposition lawmakers claim the appointment of Lula to the Cabinet is meant to shield Lula from prosecution. Under Brazilian law, only the Supreme Court can order the investigation, imprisonment or trial of a government minister.

Lula's new job comes as momentum is gathering behind efforts to impeach Rousseff over her alleged role in manipulating government accounts.

Rousseff has consistently denied any wrongdoing and argues that the allegations are politically motivated and aimed at subverting democracy.

Hundreds of Brazilian intellectuals, academics and activists gathered at an event in Sao Paulo on Thursday echoing similar claims, in which they denounced the ongoing political and judiciary maneuvers initiated by political opposition lawmakers in parliament.

During the event, supporters of the ruling Workers' Party leadership published a document, “Forum 21: Manifesto in Defense of Legality,” which warns that the recent impeachment efforts represent an attempt “to destroy Brazilian democracy" and undermine the rule of law.

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