STF expands siege on penduricalhos and threatens to remove court presidents
The STF (Supreme Federal Court) ordered the presidents of seven courts to provide clarifications on payments made to judges above the limits defined by the Court for so-called "penduricalhos". The presidents of the courts of Justice of the Federal District, Goiás, Maranhão, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte and Rondônia were summoned.
The decisions were taken on Monday (6), following news that state courts were failing to comply with the parameters set by the Supreme Court to contain remunerations above the constitutional ceiling, currently at R$ 46,400.
Ministers Alexandre de Moraes, Flávio Dino, Cristiano Zanin and Gilmar Mendes gave the courts 48 hours to send detailed information about the amounts paid to active magistrates, retirees and pensioners between April and July this year.
Copies of the payroll for the period must also be sent, with an individual breakdown of remuneration and compensation amounts.
In their decisions, the ministers warned that any failure to comply with the STF's determinations on payment limits could lead to removal from office, in addition to criminal, civil and disciplinary liability.
As CNN showed, state courts have circumvented the Supreme Court's decision and continue to pay remuneration well above the constitutional ceiling. Data from the Judicial Remuneration Portal shows payments reaching R$1 million in May.
According to the rule defined by the STF, the remuneration could reach a maximum of R$78.5 thousand, considering the constitutional ceiling and the 35% limit for authorized compensation funds.
The so-called penduricalhos are benefits, aid and compensation paid in addition to the base salary. In a previous decision, the Supreme Court prohibited part of these funds, such as food assistance, housing assistance and compensation for legal proceedings, and established a limit for payments still permitted.
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Source: CNN