Jorge Messias, Brazil's Attorney-General nominated by Lula to the STF, passed the Senate's Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) 16-11 after an eight-hour hearing. The vote, the tightest since redemocratization, faced resistance, particularly from Senate President Davi Alcolumbre. He now needs 41 votes in the full Senate to fill Luís Roberto Barroso's vacancy.
Jorge Messias underwent an eight-hour hearing in the Senate's CCJ on Wednesday (29) and was approved 16-11. The margin is the narrowest for STF nominations since redemocratization, tighter than Flávio Dino's 17-10 and André Mendonça's 18-9.
President Lula's nominee now requires at least 41 of 81 senators in the plenary for a secret ballot. Messias courted opposition senators by advocating judicial self-restraint, limits on the judiciary, an ethics code, and judge impartiality. He sidestepped the Banco Master case, highlighted his evangelical faith as a "servant of God," supported a secular state, and opposed abortion without activism.
Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP) resisted, favoring Rodrigo Pacheco and refusing a formal reception for Messias. The government secured support through emenda releases and agency posts, plus outreach from prospective STF colleagues like André Mendonça and Gilmar Mendes. Religious leaders also backed him.
Around 30 bolsonarista senators from PL, Novo, and others opposed, arguing the pick fails to ease tensions between branches. Messias, dubbed "Bessias" from a Dilma Rousseff audio a decade ago, has held roles at the Central Bank, Treasury, and AGU.
