President lula's nomination of attorney-general jorge messias to the supreme court has strained relations with the senate, opposing senate president davi alcolumbre's preference for rodrigo pacheco. Alcolumbre criticized the delay in officially submitting the nomination and denied cargo negotiations, while the government rejects insinuations of cronyism. Messias' hearing is scheduled for december 10 amid debates on judicial self-restraint.
The nomination of attorney-general jorge messias to the stf, announced on november 20, 2025, challenges the self-restraint and political distancing plan advocated by court president edson fachin upon taking office in september. Fachin emphasized: 'To law what is of law. To politics what is of politics,' and noted that 'jurisdictional service is not a spectacle. It requires restraint.'
The choice opposed davi alcolumbre (união brasil-ap), who preferred senator rodrigo pacheco (psd-mg). After the announcement, the senate approved a billion-dollar bill on health agents' special retirement, and alcolumbre scheduled the hearing for december 10, despite the delay in sending the official presidential message to the senate. The government plans for lula to deliver the document personally to the senate president.
Alcolumbre issued a statement on november 30 criticizing executive sectors for trying to create a 'false impression' that disputes are resolved through cargos and amendments, calling it an 'old method of disqualification.' Allies say he is indignant over accusations of seeking presidencies of institutions like banco do brasil, caixa, and cvm in exchange for messias' approval. Minister gleisi hoffmann (pt-pr) praised alcolumbre and denied any 'cronyism,' affirming respect for legislative independence.
Senator sergio moro (união brasil-pr) supported alcolumbre on x: 'It is up to the president of the republic to nominate and the senate to approve or reject the name nominated to the stf. Simple as that. My solidarity to senate president @davialcolumbre against the disqualification campaign promoted by executive sectors against the senate's independence.'
Experts view messias' history, including his 2023 creation of the agu's democracy defense prosecutor's office – criticized as a 'ministry of truth' by the opposition –, as signaling comfort with the judiciary in public policies. Luiz fernando esteves of insper warns of potential political tension. Thiago filippo of uerj argues politization stems more from inter-branch dynamics. Álvaro palma jorge of fgv notes the nomination is not incompatible with restraint, citing messias' doctoral thesis on the judiciary's role in the post-1988 governmental agenda.
Messias gained notoriety in 2016 as 'bessias' in a lava jato audio between lula and dilma rousseff, interpreted by gilmar mendes as an attempt to obstruct investigations.
