Attorney General of the Union was appointed by Lula for the vacancy opened by Barroso’s departure; appointment must be approved by the Senate
The decision made by the President (PT) of the Attorney General of the Union, for the open position at the (Supreme Federal Court) has already provoked the first reactions from his possible future colleagues.
Messias, 45 years old, will still need to undergo a hearing in the Senate before being officially appointed. If approved, he will take the place left by Minister Roberto Barroso, 67 years old, who will leave the Court at the beginning of October.
In a post on social media, the minister André Mendonçanominated by the former president (PL), to Messias and said that he can count on his support in the dialogue with the senators. Both are evangelicals.
“I congratulate Minister Messias for his nomination to the Supreme Court. This is a qualified name for the AGU and which meets the constitutional requirements. Therefore, I also congratulate the President of the Republic for his nomination. Messias will have my full support in the republican dialogue with the senators”Mendonça on his profile on X.
Also through social media, the minister Gilmar Mendesdean of the Court, to Messiah and wished him success in the Senate hearing.
“I congratulate Minister Jorge Messias to the Federal Supreme Court. As head of the Attorney General’s Office, Jorge Messias demonstrated remarkable public spirit, always guided by institutional dialogue with the Court and by the firm defense of Brazilian democracy. I wish him success in the hearing”said Mendes.
In a note, the minister Luiz Fuxnominated by the former president (PT), described the nominee as a “good and good man” which represents a “remarkable acquisition” to the Supreme Court. If approved, Messiah will be in place.
“Dr. Messias is a good and good man, an exceptional professional at the head of the AGU, thanks to having demonstrated, in personal relationships, fraternity and respectability in moments of eventual dissent. A notable acquisition for the STF. It came to add!!”declared Fux.
Another 2 of Lula’s nominees to the Court, the ministers Cristiano Zanin e Toffoli Daysalso wished him luck and congratulated him.
“Minister Jorge Messias is ready and prepared to be one of the 11 ministers of the STF. He has all the necessary experience and knowledge. Personal and intellectual life experience; he knows the national reality having worked in Parliament and in the Executive Branch. And, as AGU, he acted as a State lawyer and always maintained respect for the court. The Senate of the Republic will know how to analyze his multiple attributes. Once approved, he will be very welcome to the STF”said Toffoli.
“Minister Jorge Messias has an impeccable personal and professional trajectory, marked by notorious legal knowledge and an unblemished reputation, and will certainly be a great minister of the Federal Supreme Court”said Zanin.
Ministers are also part of the Supreme Court. Alexandre de Moraes, Carmen Lucia, Flavio Dino, Nunes Brandsin addition to the current president of the Court, Edson Fachin.
O Poder360 He contacted the offices of all ministers by email to ask if there had been public demonstrations about Messiah’s appointment to the Court. There was no response until the publication of this report. The text will be updated if a statement is sent to this digital newspaper, or is made through any other public channels.
Messiah also, minister of who will eventually occupy the chair. “Jorge Messias is a great person, he was an admirable attorney general of the Union and I am sure he will honor the Federal Supreme Court. I am personally happy with the choice of his name”he said in a note.
INDICATION OF MESSIAH
Lula’s choice establishes Messias as one of the central figures in the legal axis of the PT government. Next to the president, the AGU minister was already being treated as “trusted voice” on sensitive topics: from the government’s institutional defense to legal clashes in Congress and the Supreme Court.
The decision was taken after consultations with STF ministers and the president of the Senate, (União Brasil-AP). A wing of the Court and the head of the Upper House were in favor of the senator’s nomination (PSD-MG).
Sectors of civil society and organizations once again asked for Barroso’s vacancy, which was once again not met by Lula, in his 3rd nomination in his 3rd term. The name of Messiah was confirmed by Lula on Black Consciousness Day.
The STF only had, no women. They are: Joaquim Barbosa (nominated by Lula), Nunes Marques (nominated by Bolsonaro) and Flávio Dino (nominated by Lula).
In the same period, only 3 of the nominees were women, all white: Ellen Gracie (nominated by Fernando Henrique Cardoso), Cármen Lúcia (nominated by Lula) and Rosa Weber (nominated by Dilma).
Here’s how Messiah’s analysis will work in the Senate:
- hearing at CCJ – the nominee goes through a public hearing at the Constitution and Justice Commission. Senators ask questions about trajectory, opinions and legal understandings;
- vote in the CCJ – the commission votes on the nomination in secret. If there is a simple majority in favor (half plus one of those present), the name goes to the plenary;
- Senate plenary – the final decision is made by the 81 senators. Also in a secret vote, the nominee must obtain an absolute majority, that is, at least 41 votes in favor;
- appointment and investiture – If approved, the President of the Republic signs the appointment and the new minister takes office at the STF.
