Brazilian Senate Rejects Lula’s Supreme Court Nominee in Rare Defeat

Overview

• The Senate vote Wednesday, which ended 42 to 34, blocked Jorge Messias from the Supreme Federal Court, Brazil’s top court, in the first rejection of a presidential court pick since 1894.
• G1 and O Antagonista reported that Senate President Davi Alcolumbre coordinated the push against Messias, and he brushed off questions after the vote by telling reporters, “You know more than I do.”
• O Globo reported that Justice Alexandre de Moraes worked behind the scenes to reinforce no votes by sending emissaries to senators with cases or ties to the Court, creating an unusual alignment with Bolsonaro allies in the Senate.
• O Globo also detailed why Moraes viewed Messias as a setback, citing his role in the Banco Master inquiry and a pending plea deal that could touch on his own circle, while Justice André Mendonça had campaigned for Messias and later called the result a missed chance.
• Allies say Alcolumbre wants Senator Rodrigo Pacheco for the seat, yet government aides told G1 the president may opt for a third candidate, signaling a fresh round of bargaining over the Court’s next member.