Brazil's Senate rejected Attorney-General Jorge Messias's nomination to the Supreme Federal Court (STF) on Wednesday (April 29, 2026), with 42 votes against and 34 in favor. The vote marks the first rejection of a presidential nominee to the Court in 132 years, since 1894. Messias had been approved by the CCJ committee 16-11 after an eight-hour hearing.
The Senate plenum rejected Jorge Messias's nomination to the STF, put forward by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for the vacancy left by Luís Roberto Barroso. Messias needed 41 favorable votes but received only 34 in a secret ballot. Earlier, the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) had approved him 16-11.
Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP) accurately predicted the eight-vote margin in a microphone-captured conversation with government leader Jaques Wagner (PT-BA). The rejection stems from opposition resistance, led by Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), and Alcolumbre's maneuvering, who favored Rodrigo Pacheco (PSB-MG).
Post-vote, Messias stated: “I fulfilled my purpose. The Senate plenum is sovereign.” He met Lula at the Palácio da Alvorada. Opposition celebrated: Flávio Bolsonaro called it a “historic day”; Sergio Moro sought an “STF independent of Lula”; Romeu Zema dubbed it a “goal for Brazil”.
Government allies saw it as a pre-election “message.” Alcolumbre indicated the next nomination goes to the October-elected president. STF President Edson Fachin said the Court awaits a new nominee “with serenity.”
