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Supreme Court justice in Brazil blocks post for ex-president

Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a rally in support of him and Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday, March 18, 2016. Supporters of Silva, who was one of the world's most famous leaders as president from 2003 to 2010, gathered for rallies in a handful of cities across Brazil, particularly in the industrial south, where the former factory worker has his base. Silva has been tied to a sprawling corruption investigation involving the Brazil oil giant Petrobras.(AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a rally in support of him and Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday, March 18, 2016. Supporters of Silva, who was one of the world's most famous leaders as president from 2003 to 2010, gathered for rallies in a handful of cities across Brazil, particularly in the industrial south, where the former factory worker has his base. Silva has been tied to a sprawling corruption investigation involving the Brazil oil giant Petrobras.(AP Photo/Andre Penner) Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a rally in support of him and Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday, March 18, 2016. Supporters of Silva, who was one of the world's most famous leaders as president from 2003 to 2010, gathered for rallies in a handful of cities across Brazil, particularly in the industrial south, where the former factory worker has his base. Silva has been tied to a sprawling corruption investigation involving the Brazil oil giant Petrobras.(AP Photo/Andre Penner)

By Associated Press 4 min read

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – A Supreme Court judge suspended former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s nomination to a Cabinet post amid corruption investigations, a decision likely to stoke tensions in a country already rocked by dueling pro- and anti-government demonstrations.

In his ruling late Friday, Justice Gilmar Mendes called Silva’s appointment as current President Dilma Rousseff’s chief of staff a clear attempt to help the once wildly popular ex-leader get around his legal woes.

Two weeks ago, Silva was brought in for questioning in a sprawling investigation into an alleged kickback scheme in the state oil company Petrobras. If he becomes a Cabinet minister, Silva can only be prosecuted with the approval of the Supreme Court and his appointment sparked an outcry from critics who said Rousseff was seeking to shield her mentor from prosecution.

“The goal of the falsity is clear: prevent the carrying out of preventative arrest order” against Silva being considered by a lower court, Mendes wrote in his ruling.

Both Rousseff and Silva deny the accusations, and on Friday tens of thousands demonstrators rallied behind Brazil’s center-left government. Anti-government protests over the weekend brought an estimated 3 million people onto the streets in nationwide.