This Monday (12), the Superior Electoral Court (TSE, in Portuguese) holds the certification ceremony of president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers’ Party) and vice-president Geraldo Alckmin (Brazilian Socialist Party). Before the National Congress, both will receive a document demonstrating their eligibility to govern the country as determined by democratic elections.
This year, the event is even more symbolic due to the coupist manifestations on social media platforms and in front of Police and Army headquarters. There are even conspiracy theories about the two winners. With this certification, Brazil restores institutional normality and democracy.
The security scheme will be enhanced. Both male and female guests will have limited access to the area. However, the plenary will not be open even for this group: some will have to watch the ceremony on large screens installed in the auditoriums and in the Court's main hall.
A limited number of journalists per media outlet will be allowed to attend the event, and their access to some areas will also be restricted. Speeches by Lula, Alckmin and Minister Alexandre de Moraes, president of the Superior Electoral Court, are expected.
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The certification always happens after the end of the elections, after the vote count and the expiration of the deadlines for questioning and processing the result of the election. It marks the end of the electoral process.
Therefore, it is no longer possible to begin a judicial investigation into the elections. The law also provides for election supervisory bodies to request extraordinary verification until January 5. A request of this kind has already been filed by the Liberal Party, Jair Bolsonaro's party. However, the Superior Electoral Court has denied the legal challenge.
The Court considered that the request for annulment of the second round intended to “disturb the Brazilian democratic regime”. The Liberal Party received a fine of more than 22 million reais (about 4,1 million US dollars) for litigation in “bad faith”.
Brazil’s next government takes shape
Days before the certification, Lula announced the first five ministers of Brazil’s next government. The Ministry of Defense will be headed by José Múcio Monteiro; Fernando Haddad will be the next Minister of Finance; Flávio Dino (Brazilian Socialist Party) will head the Ministry of Justice and Public Security; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be led by Mauro Vieira, and Rui Costa (Workers’ Party) will be the government's Chief of Staff.
The president-elect himself had said that he would only announce names after the certification ceremony. But the ministries Lula chose to make public are strategic and send key messages about how the market, Armed Forces, security and political articulation will be led.
