President Lula nominated Attorney-General Jorge Messias for the Supreme Court vacancy left by Luís Roberto Barroso, sparking controversies in the Senate. Senate President Davi Alcolumbre canceled the hearing schedule due to lack of formal communication, while an institute challenges the nomination over gender imbalance on the court. The Senate's Evangelical Front faces a dilemma on supporting the nominee.
Lula's nomination of Attorney-General Jorge Messias to the STF has sparked an unnecessary crisis, according to columnist Elio Gaspari. Senate President Davi Alcolumbre, who preferred former Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco, reacted by canceling the hearing schedule announced for Tuesday (2), citing lack of formal communication from the Planalto. The Constitution grants the president exclusive prerogative to nominate STF justices, while the Senate must approve with at least 41 votes after a hearing.
Alcolumbre broke ties with government leader Jaques Wagner and approved a 'bomb agenda' in retaliation, amid prior disputes over equatorial margin oil exploration. Gaspari criticizes the move as a 'teenage tantrum' in a bicentennial institution, devoid of public interest.
The Senate's Evangelical Front, with 26 members, initially rejected Messias due to his left-leaning ties to Lula but now views him as preferable to a 'pure-blood leftist,' per a religious leader. Evangelical Messias met with the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM), expressing opposition to abortion and showing a bracelet reading 'sou de Deus.' He pledged to respect CFM positions on medical issues and was seen as a potential ally, despite the council's historical clashes with the left on topics like the pandemic and abortion.
Meanwhile, the Movad Institute for Respect to Advocacy filed a public civil action in the Federal Court of the DF to suspend the nomination, citing gender asymmetry: only Cármen Lúcia holds one of 11 seats, undermining rulings on domestic violence and reproductive rights. The institute demands a woman's nomination and compensation for equality policies, noting women comprise over 50% of Brazil's population and legal professionals.
