Senate Rejects Lula’s Supreme Court Nominee for First Time in 132 Years

Overview

• Jorge Messias, whose nomination went to a Senate vote Wednesday, lost 42–34 even though approval requires at least 41 yes votes for the Supreme Court.
• Seeking to regain the agenda Monday, Lula unveiled Novo Desenrola by provisional measure to ease household debts and is pushing a plan to end the 6x1 work schedule.
• Despite talk of punishing Senate President Davi Alcolumbre for his role in the defeat, the Planalto says it needs his cooperation to schedule priority votes and clear 27 pending appointments to regulators and boards.
• The government is weighing whether to re‑submit Messias later, name someone else now, or wait until after the elections, as Senate rules restrict a new vote this session and Messias offered to leave the AGU.
• Opposition senators moved to advance constitutional amendments to impose fixed terms and change how justices are chosen, though such changes need supermajorities and face a tight pre‑election calendar.