Donald Trump has chosen Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the United States Supreme Court.
At least that's what the major American media reported on Friday, September 25, advancing well-placed Republican sources.
The American president is due to officially announce Saturday at 5 p.m. (11 p.m. in France) the name of this magistrate known for her traditionalist religious convictions.
She is to succeed the progressive "RBG", feminist icon, who died last week from cancer.
This crucial appointment is already controversial, less than 40 days before the US presidential election on November 3.
Donald Trump has started the process at full speed to be able to anchor the Supreme Court in a lasting way in conservatism, its judges being appointed for life.
Democrats wind up
The Democrats are on the wind, arguing that he should wait for the election before switching to the conservative camp this institution which decides, in the United States, the main questions of society, such as abortion or the right to wear weapons.
If its candidate is confirmed, as expected, by the Senate with a Republican majority, the Supreme Court will have only three progressive judges out of its nine magistrates.
Asked about this information, Donald Trump replied: "I didn't say it was her, but she is extraordinary."
The five candidates he said he was considering "are all great," he added to reporters as he got off the presidential Air Force One plane on Friday night.
Has he made up his mind?
"In my head, yes".
Opposed to abortion
The choice of Amy Coney Barrett, a practicing Catholic of 48, mother of seven and opposed by personal conviction to abortion, could galvanize the conservative religious electorate on which Donald Trump largely relied to get elected there. is four years old.
But Republican sources mentioned in US media do not rule out the possibility of a "last minute turnaround" by the president.
"He has not, as far as we know, spoken to other candidates," nevertheless specifies the New York Times.
The other lesser-known favorite was Barbara Lagoa.
Born in Florida 52 years ago to parents who fled the communist regime of Fidel Castro, she could have been for Donald Trump a political asset of weight in this potentially decisive southern state for the presidential election.
A "wonderful woman" and "Hispanic", had underlined the Republican, who indicated Friday evening not to have met her in person.
Political tensions
The magistrate appointed Saturday by the tenant of the White House will then have to be confirmed by the Senate, by a simple majority.
Despite the Democratic outcry, the upper house is expected to vote before the November 3 presidential election.
A sign of political tensions, it was under the boos of demonstrators that Donald Trump came to meditate Thursday in front of the remains of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, exposed at the entrance of the Supreme Court.
Just a week after his death, at the age of 87, "RBG" received his last solemn tributes on Friday at the United States Capitol, in the presence of Democratic White House candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris.
She is the first woman to receive such a tribute at the seat of the United States Congress and the first person of Jewish faith.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be buried in private next week at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington.
With AFP
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