1st LD: New court ruling clears Lula for chief of staff post

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva could take up the post of chief of staff in the cabinet of President Dilma Rousseff following a judicial decision in his favor, official sources said on Friday.

Lula was first nominated to his position on Wednesday, but federal judge Preta Neto issued an injunction Thursday to suspend the office of Lula as chief of staff in Rousseff's cabinet, saying it prevented free exercise of justice.

On Friday, Reis Fride, vice president from the Federal Court of the 2nd Region (TRF2) struck down the injunction, saying the federal court in Rio de Janeiro which issued the injunction did not have the legal authority to rule on matters related to the presidency.

In a press release, Fride said the suspension of Lula's nomination could have gravely harmed public order and the national economy, especially considering "the risk of worsening the political and social crisis the country is currently going through."

Until now, the courts have ruled on only two demands against Lula's nomination to chief of staff, although dozens of similar actions have been filed across the country.

Some of these actions question Lula's right to be in the cabinet due to pending corruption investigations against him. Others state that his appointment sought to grant him immunity from prosecution in order to dodge charges of money laundering.

Brazil's attorney general has asked the Supreme Court to gather all the actions against Lula's nomination and rule on them together.

The position of chief of staff grants Lula immunity from all prosecution, except from the Supreme Court. This has sparked outrage across Brazil and led to numerous protests against the government. Enditem